Qudus SalihuRangers Fans Tear Into Nasser Djiga: Was Defender ‘Completely Lost’ in Celtic Semi-Final Defeat?
Glasgow, Scotland – The dust has barely settled on a crushing 3-1 extra-time defeat to fierce rivals Celtic in the Scottish League Cup semi-final, but the fury among the Rangers faithful is already reaching fever pitch. While the early red card to Thelo Aasgaard undeniably shaped the contest, a significant portion of the fanbase has pinpointed one individual for particular scorn: defender Nasser Djiga.
In a match where every touch and tackle was scrutinized under the Hampden Park lights, Djiga’s performance has been widely lambasted as a key factor in Rangers’ elimination. Social media, fan forums, and even post-match podcasts have been awash with scathing assessments, with many describing the centre-back as “completely lost” throughout the 120 minutes.
”He looked out of his depth from the first whistle,” fumed one fan on X (formerly Twitter), echoing a sentiment repeated countless times. “Too slow, too ponderous, and just generally seemed unsure of where he needed to be. Against Celtic, that’s suicide.”
The criticisms leveled at Djiga are multi-faceted. Supporters point to a perceived lack of positional awareness, particularly in the chaotic exchanges that often define Old Firm derbies. There’s a strong feeling that he was too “lackadaisical in defence,” frequently caught flat-footed or failing to react quickly enough to Celtic’s dynamic attacking movements.
Furthermore, his distribution and composure on the ball have also come under fire. “Wasteful in possession” is a common refrain, with fans highlighting instances where hopeful clearances or misplaced passes simply invited more pressure from the Hoops, rather than relieving it. In a game where Rangers needed to be faultless to overcome their numerical disadvantage, every error was magnified.
While some might argue that the red card forced the team into an unnatural defensive shape, and that Djiga was simply a casualty of the tactical reshuffle, the vehemence of the criticism suggests a deeper frustration. It speaks to a belief that, even within a challenging scenario, the defender’s individual display fell well short of the expected standard for a Rangers player in such a pivotal fixture.
As the inquest into another Old Firm defeat begins, Nasser Djiga finds himself firmly in the crosshairs of a demanding fanbase. Whether this backlash will spark a determined response from the player, or whether it signals a more fundamental issue, remains to be seen. But for now, many Rangers supporters are pointing the finger squarely at their own star, believing his performance contributed directly to their semi-final heartbreak.
Qudus Salihu
Mustapha Sheidu
Nafisa
