There will be no Champions League action for Super Eagles duo of Leon Balogun and Joe Aribo this season, after Rangers got knocked out in the third qualifying round to 10-man Swedish club, Malmo on Tuesday night.
Having suffered a 2-1 defeat in the first leg, the Scottish Premier League champions needed to overturn the deficit in the reverse fixture in front of their home fans, but lost by the same score line to go out 4-2 on aggregate.
Despite being reduced to ten men following the sending off of Nigerian midfielder, Bonke Innocent before half time, the Swedish side scored twice through Antonio Colak after Alfredo Morelos had given Rangers an early lead.
With Balogun and Aribo in action, Rangers started on the front foot, creating a number of chances in the first-half before taking the lead in the 18th minute.
Similarly, former Super Eagles invitee, Cyriel Dessers could not rescue his team from crashing out of the champions league despite scoring Genk’s only goal, as they lost 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk in the qualifying fixture.
The Belgians went into the second leg of the third qualifying round needing a comprehensive win to have a chance of reaching the play-off round.
The Smurfs had bowed 2-1 at the Luminus Arena despite taking the lead through Nigerian international Paul Onuachu.
