Some of the Nigerian footballers who played in the top five European leagues — Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1, Bundesliga and the Premier League — have been doomed to the drop, moving from top-flight football to the second division.
Unfortunately, most of the international stars are part of the Nigeria national side, the Super Eagles, which have failed to live up to its name and soar like the bird after which it is named in recent times.
Below are eight names that suffer the ignominy of relegation.
Leicester’s Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho were instrumental in the team’s 8th-place finish in the 2021/22 season but could not prevent the team from being relegated this season.
This season, Iheanacho has a meagre return of five goals and five assists in 28 appearances, 17 of which were substitutes.
Southampton’s Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu also suffered relegation, with Onuachu failing to score or provide an assist in his 11 appearances.
Cyriel Dessers of Cremonese, who scored six goals and provided two assists in 26 games, was also relegated from Serie A.
Chidera Ejuke of Hertha BSC, who recorded zero goals and three assists in 20 league games, and John Donald of Elche CF were also relegated this season.
David Okereke, another Nigerian talent, was relegated with Cremonese after scoring seven goals in 32 appearances.
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