Rangers duo Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo started and played 90 minutes for Nigeria as late drama nicked the points for the Super Eagles in their AFCON qualifier away to Benin.
FC Mitdjylland striker Paul Onuachu would net the only goal of the match in injury time to steal all three points for Gernot Rohr’s side in a tight match in Porto-Novo.
Nigeria’s squad is one littered with expensive talent at club level and the nation is going through a period of positive transformation.
The result against Benin solidifies their position as Group L winners in qualification for the African Cup of Nations, which is set to be held in Cameroon between January and February next year.
The Super Eagles will almost certainly travel to the Central African nation as one of the tournament’s favourites – and it’s little wonder when you look at the squad they’ve assembled.
Balogun (free contract) and Aribo (£300k development fee) might be bargain signings for Rangers but they remain key players for the nation amongst expensive talent.
In the starting lineup alone, right-back Ola Aina (£9m), midfielder Wilfred Ndidi (£17m), forward Henry Onyekuru (£15m), striker Kelechi Iheanacho (£25m) and fellow forward Victor Osimhen (£60m) has the Nigeria squad’s value swelling to over £126m.
And that’s without Alex Iwobi (£34m) and Ahmed Musa (who once cost Leicester City £16.6m).
Balogun and Aribo will certainly feel the benefit of being amongst such a star-studded and expensively assembled squad but it says something about their qualities that they are first-choice picks.
Nigeria will now face off against Lesotho in the final AFCON qualifier in Lagos this coming Tuesday.
Rangers duo Balogun and Aribo are viewed as such important players in the Nigeria squad they were even namedropped by the manager long before the squad was picked amid Covid fears.
