-Ikenna Okafor
Rangers of Scotland duo Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey are taking their good forms to the United States where the Super Eagles are set to engage Mexico and Ecuador.
The two players travelled together to Texas where they are training with new national team boss Jose Peseiro – ironically once touted for the Ibrox manager’s job.
The Super Eagles are playing two friendlies in the States as Peseiro tries to build towards qualifying for next year’s African Cup of Nations after Nigeria agonisingly missed out on qualifying for this winter’s World Cup, losing a play-off to Ghana on away goals.
They face Mexico on Sunday at the A T&T Stadium in Arlington – home of the Dallas Cowboys – then they head to New Jersey where they will face Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena on June 3. Rangers defender, Leon Balogun is not with the squad.
It’s extending an incredibly gruelling season for Joe Aribo, who has already played 62 matches in all competitions.
Like Bassey, he too has been linked with a move away from Ibrox as the 25-year-old enters the final year of his contract, just like Alfredo Morelos and Ryan Kent.
Peseiro is certain to use the Rangers man, who has started the last 17 Nigeria games.
The Portuguese coach was wanted by Rangers in the summer of 2015 – and he was going to bring Pedro Caixinha with him as his assistant – but he pulled out when the Ibrox men failed to make it back to the Premiership, losing to Motherwell in the play-off final.
Instead Mark Warburton was appointed and then Caixinha came in February 2017 but lasted just 229 days in charge.
Aribo, Bassey ready to Cage Mexico