By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Southampton manager Will Still has attributed Joe Aribo’s lack of playing time this season to fierce competition within the squad and the Nigerian midfielder’s disrupted pre-season.
Aribo, who was a regular last campaign despite the Saints’ relegation from the Premier League, has yet to feature this term — a situation that cost him a place in Nigeria’s squad for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Speaking to Daily Echo, Still admitted the 28-year-old faces a battle to regain sharpness and break into the side as Southampton chase an immediate return to the top flight.
“We’ve got 24 or 25 players in the squad, including three goalkeepers, and every week we have to leave out six — which is huge.
“Aribo missed almost a whole pre-season, so we’re just working him back in when we can and where we feel the opportunity is right,” Still explained.
The Belgian coach acknowledged the difficulty of leaving players out but stressed that results and performances dictate selection.
“There are a lot of players in those positions now. Sometimes you don’t even have a reason; it’s just a decision you’ve got to make. I’d rather be honest and tell them the way it is.
“With the way results are going, the next game is always an opportunity for someone else.”
Aribo was strongly linked with moves to Turkey in the summer but remained at St Mary’s. Still insists the midfielder will get his chance once he builds match fitness.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
