It is that time of the season when Premier League survival gathers a lot of attention. With three to four games left to draw the curtain on the campaign, the race to beat the relegation is very intense.
Nigerian players are very much in this big fight and Afrosport sheds light on some of the biggest profile names.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)
The Owerri native has been a key player for the Foxes since his arrival from Manchester City in the summer of 2017. His 87 goal involvements (55 goals, 32 assists) in more than 200 competitive games is a testament to his importance to the team.
Iheanacho is however facing the prospect of seeing Leicester go down to the Championship after eight years of top-flight football that saw them win the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield. They currently sit in 18th position and Iheanacho could be playing in a lower division for the first time in his career should he remain at the King Power Stadium and their relegation status is confirmed.
Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest)
The 25-year-old was among more than 30 names that were signed by Forest over the last two transfer windows following their promotion to the top flight for the first time since the 1998-99 season.
It was a good move for Awoniyi’s career after a successful spell in Germany with Union Berlin, scoring 25 goals in 65 apperances. Things have however not gone that well for the East Midlands outfit as they sit in 17th place on the table, three points shy of the drop zone. Forest could be back to the Championship at the first time of asking which will be a disappointment considering the heavy investment on recruitment.
Alex Iwobi (Everton)
The nephew of Nigeria legend Jay-Jay Okocha has been a very important player for Toffees since the second half of last season and has been ever-present, completing 90 minutes in 47 consecutive league games, culminating in 4,192 minutes of action.
Despite putting in solid performances in versatile roles on the pitch, Iwobi is facing the prospect of going down with Everton as they currently occupy 17th position and are two points away from relegation. It would be the first time Iwobi has experienced relegation in his career and it will also end Everton’s 68-year stay in the English top flight.
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)
Like teammate and countryman Iheanacho, Ndidi could be going down to a lower tier for the first time in his career having previously played at Belgian Pro League side Genk before moving to the King Power Stadium in January 2017. His drop in form evidenced by him being named on the substitutes bench in almost half of his total apperances has also not helped the Foxes cause in moving clear of the relegation zone.
Paul Onuachu (Southampton)
Onuachu is another Nigerian player who has never gone down with another team with the bulk of his career spent at Danish giants FC Midtjylland and then Genk.
The 6ft7in tall striker was supposed to bring life to the Saints when he joined in January but none of that has happened as the south coast outfit’s relegation status is almost confirmed, with eight points keeping them away from safety and only three games left to play.
