Six African players are on the verge of securing Premier League promotion with Luton Town in Saturday’s Championship playoff against Coventry City at Wembley Stadium.
Luton Town have not made it back to the English top-flight since they were relegated in 1991-92 campaign and have never played Premier League football.
In Rob Edwards’ team, Nigeria boasts of three players – Elijah Adebayo, Fred Onyedinma and Gabriel Osho, midfielder Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu flies the Democratic Republic of Congo flag while Zimbabwe have midfield maestro Marvellous Nakamba and Admiral Muskwe.
The six African stars played their roles in helping Luton Town finish third in the regular Championship season with 80 points from 46 matches while Nigeria stars Adebayo and Osho scored crucial goals that powered the Hatters past Sunderland in the two-legged playoffs semi-final.
Elijah Adebayo (Nigeria)
The 25-year-old is the second-highest scoring player and the player with the second-most appearances for Luton this campaign with eight goals in 44 league matches. Adebayo joined from Walsall in February 2021 and he scored a total of 29 Championship goals for Luton Town so far.
Gabriel Osho (Nigeria)
Osho joined Luton in July 2021 after a loan spell at Rochdale but he has made himself a regular player in Rob Edwards’ team with 29 Championship appearances under his belt. Although he has been sent off twice in the English second division this campaign, the 24-year-old Nigerian has contributed three goals for the Hatters.
Fred Onyedinma (Nigeria)
The Lagos-born forward has played 18 league games for Luton Toown this season, which included six starts. Onyedinma has not been able to replicate his form of three goals and four assists from the 2021-22 campaign, as Luton chase a historic promotion to the Premier League this term.
Pelly-Ruddock Mpanzu (DR Congo)
29-year-old Mpanzu is one of the veterans in the Luton Town squad, helping the club rise from National League, League Two, League One then Championship with Premier League football the new focus on Saturday. He joined Luton Town in January 2014 from Premier League club, West Ham United. The DR Congo international has scored three goals in 32 Championship games this season.
Marvelous Nakamba (Zimbabwe)
Since his loan signing from Premier League club Aston Villa in January, Nakamba has been more of a boost in Luton Town’s midfield with his work-rate and physicality compared to none. The former Club Brugge and Vitesse star is at the centre of the Hatters’ quest for top-flight next season, starting all but one of the 18 Championship games he has played so far.
Admiral Muskwe (Zimbabwe)
Injury has hindered Muskwe’s chances of playing for Luton Town this season and he has not played any competitive match for the club since his loan return from League One club Fleetwood Town at the end of January. The 24-year-old made two appearances for Luton Town in the Championship earlier in the season before going out loan.
