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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Steven Mair

Joe Aribo Rangers fears eased as 'dropped' star's Nigeria absence at AFCON clash explained

Midfielder Joe Aribo has not suffered an injury while on Nigeria duty - but isn't quite being "rested" either in the final group game of AFCON 2022.

The Super Eagles take on Guinea-Bissau, who can count on Alloa's Fernandy Mendy among their substitutes.

But Rangers fans were concerned to see Aribo's name vanish from the squad list ahead of the Wednesday evening kick-off.

Fears abounded that their critical playmaker, arguably the club's player of the year and a standout under Gio van Bronckhorst, had picked up a knock.

Others wondered if the big guns were being rested for the match but then with the likes of Leicester pair Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho starting that logic didn't seem to add up either.

But it's most likely manager Augustine Eguavoen has taken him Aribo out of the firing line given he's already on a yellow card.

Booked in the second match against Sudan, another caution would rule him out for the first knockout round which Nigeria has already qualified for.

And to back up that theory defender Ola Aina - also booked against Sudan - was also left out.

Both the Torino man and Aribo should be back for the round of 16 clashes, which start on Sunday.

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