The trio of Nigerian soccer stars, Joe Aribo, Calvin Bassey and Leon Balogun, all of Rangers of Scotland, are on the verge of history when the ‘Gers battle German Bundesliga side, Eintracht Frankfurt, in the Europa League final at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan Stadium in Seville, Spain, on Wednesday night.

The Nigerian internationals are just 90 minutes, or maybe 120 minutes, away from history on the European continent as they will become the first three players from the same country to lift Europe’s second continental trophy.

The value of the Nigerian stars to Rangers cannot be downplayed as they have proven time and time again to be indispensables for Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side.

Aribo may be about the most important player of the trio as his involvement in open play demonstrates the 25-year-old’s effect on van Bronckhorst’s men who need him to deliver a strong performance in Wednesday’s decider.

Calvin Bassey may not have scored as many as Leon Balogun’s two goals in their Europa League campaign, yet the versatile left sided defender has arguably played a more significant role in their run to the final.

The 22-year-old has started all but two of Rangers’ games, fulfilling dual roles and becoming a reliable head at the heart of the defence.

Only captain and fellow defender James Tavernier has outdone Bassey’s 30 interceptions, although that comes with the caveat that the Englishman has played more than the Nigeria international who edges every teammate for tackles plus interceptions in their run to the final.

On and off the ball, Bassey is blessed with an underrated passing range which he showcased in their quarter-final turnaround against Sporting Braga where his sensational pin-point pass from deep inside his half found Kemar Roofe on the edge of the area, forcing Vítor Tormena to bring down the frontman inside the area.

Balogun may not be a regular starter in the team but the versatile defender always gives the team a calmness in the heart of defence whenever he is called upon. And he always delivers and steals forward once in a while to nick in the odd goal here and there.

The Nigerian trio has contributed to six of Rangers 22 goals in the run up to the final, which is 27 percent of the Scottish outfit’s strikes in the competition.

For all their rich history, only a European Cup Winners Cup success in 1972 accounts for Rangers’ sole continental triumph in their 150-year history but victory against Frankfurt will banish the hurt of losing the Premiership title to Celtic and see them match their fierce rivals for European titles won.

And most importantly, victory will place the three Nigerian soccer stars in the history books of the Scottish giants.