Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu have already sunk with Southampton after their loss on Sunday, but several other Nigerian stars are desperately battling to avoid joining them in the dreaded waters of relegation across Europe’s top leagues, PETER AKINBO writes

EPL

Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)

The Super Eagles midfielder finds himself in an increasingly dire situation with Leicester City, who sit 19th in the Premier League table, 15 points from safety. The Foxes have set an unwanted record in English football, becoming the first side to lose eight consecutive Premier League matches without scoring a single goal.

Leicester’s last league goal came in their 2-1 win over Tottenham on January 26, with their last home strike dating back even further to December 8. The alarming drought has seen the club establish themselves as joint-lowest home scorers in the league with just 11 goals, matching already-relegated Southampton.

Under Ruud van Nistelrooy, Leicester have suffered 16 defeats in 20 matches, with relegation now looking inevitable. Mathematical survival remains possible, but realistically, their fate could be sealed within the next fortnight—potentially after their clash with Liverpool on April 20.

Despite the team’s struggles, Ndidi has contributed four assists in 22 Premier League appearances this season, demonstrating his value in an otherwise disappointing campaign for the 2016 champions.


LIGUE 1

Moses Simon (FC Nantes)

The situation is less precarious but still concerning for Nigeria’s Moses Simon at Nantes, who currently sit four points above the relegation zone in Ligue 1. With 30 points, the Canaries remain in a better position than 16th-placed Reims (26 points).

Simon has been in exceptional form this term, registering nine assists to place him joint-top of the assist charts in Ligue 1 alongside Rayan Cherki (Lyon), Bradley Barcola (PSG), and Dilane Bakwa (Strasbourg).

The winger has recorded an impressive 16 goal contributions this campaign—seven goals and nine assists—setting a new personal record in French football. His latest assist came for Douglas Augusto in a crucial result that has helped Nantes keep a reasonable buffer from the drop zone.

With six matches remaining, Simon’s consistent performances have been pivotal in Nantes’ push for survival, with recent key contributions against Lille, Nice, and Le Havre proving his worth to the team.

Hafiz Ibrahim (Stade Reims)

At the other end of the relegation battle in Ligue 1 sits Nigeria’s Hafiz Ibrahim with Stade Reims, who currently occupy 16th position—the relegation playoff spot.

Reims have significantly underperformed since the departure of manager Will Still, with the club now fighting for their top-flight survival. Their league struggles have been compounded by a series of defeats, most recently falling 1-0 at home to Strasbourg despite reaching the Coupe de France final.

The club faces additional challenges with several key absences, including the suspended Mory Gbane and injured players Gabriel Moscardo, Yaya Fofana, Reda Khadra, and Mohamed Daramy.

Their upcoming fixture against Lens—ironically managed by former Reims boss Will Still—presents another difficult challenge for Ibrahim and his teammates as they battle to avoid dropping into Ligue 2.

EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

Jamilu Collins (Cardiff City)

In the Championship, Super Eagles defender Jamilu Collins and Cardiff City find themselves in a dangerous spot, sitting 22nd in the table—occupying the final relegation spot with 41 points, just two points from safety.

The Bluebirds have shown some resilience recently, going unbeaten in their last three outings. However, their poor away form, having won just one of their past six matches on the road—continues to be a concern as they fight for survival.

Manager Omer Riza will take some encouragement from the fact that Cardiff are level on points with 21st-placed Derby County, and with only four points separating them from 17th-placed Portsmouth, escape remains a realistic possibility with six games remaining.

Cardiff’s recent defensive improvement was showcased in their 0-0 draw with Queens Park Rangers, where they kept their first clean sheet in seven matches. Collins and his teammates will need to maintain this solidity if they are to avoid the drop to League One.

Victor Moses, Elijah Adebayo (Luton Town)

Luton Town, home to Victor Moses and Nigeria-eligible striker Elijah Adebayo, sit 23rd in the Championship table, four points from safety with just six games to play.

The Hatters have shown marked improvement in recent weeks, avoiding defeat in four consecutive matches and winning twice. Their defensive record has also strengthened, with three clean sheets in their last five outings—as many as they had managed in their previous 22 games.

Under manager Matt Bloomfield, Luton remain just two points behind 21st-placed Derby County, whom they face on April 18 in what could be a decisive relegation showdown. However, they also face challenging fixtures against promotion-chasing sides Coventry City and West Bromwich Albion in their final two games.

Injury concerns have hampered their survival push, with both Moses and Adebayo currently sidelined, further complicating their attempt to avoid another drop, after last season’s relegation from the Premier League.

Muhamed Tijani (Plymouth Argyle)

Plymouth Argyle, featuring Nigerian striker Muhamed Tijani, find themselves in the most desperate position among Championship sides, sitting bottom of the table and six points from safety.

The Pilgrims have struggled particularly on their travels, collecting just seven of their 37 Championship points away from Home Park, winning just one of their 20 away league matches this season.

Plymouth’s defensive frailties have been a major issue, conceding an eye-watering 78 goals across 40 Championship matches, the poorest defensive record in the division.

A recent inspiring 2-1 victory over Norwich City at Home Park, thanks to a Ryan Hardie brace, has kept their slim survival hopes alive. However, with time running out and the points gap widening, Tijani and Plymouth face an uphill battle to avoid dropping into League One.