Matchday 22 of the Premier League encounter between Nottingham Forest and Southampton was exciting for Nigerian football fans. Five Nigerian players featured, with Onuachu, Aina, and Ugochukwu making significant contributions.
Ola Aina set the tone for the Nigerian impact in the match with a superb assist in the 41st minute. The Super Eagles defender delivered an inch-perfect cross for Chris Wood, who headed home Forest’s third goal of the evening.
Aina’s influence extended beyond attack, as he later made a crucial goal-line clearance in the 95th minute, denying Jan Bednarek an equalizer and solidifying Forest’s 3-2 win.
Lesley Ugochukwu, who came off the bench in the 46th minute, made an immediate impact for Southampton.
The Franco-Nigerian midfielder provided the assist for Bednarek’s goal in the 60th minute, delivering a precise pass following a set-piece situation. Despite his attacking contribution, Ugochukwu received a late yellow card for a reckless foul, capping an eventful cameo performance.
Paul Onuachu finally ended his Premier League goal drought after a frustrating spell stretching across two seasons. Introduced in the 58th minute, the towering striker’s persistence paid off in the dying moments of the game. In the 91st minute, he nodded in a Mateus Fernandes corner to reduce the deficit to 3-2, marking his first Premier League goal in 23 games.
Awoniyi and Aribo struggle
While Aina, Onuachu, and Ugochukwu made their mark, Taiwo Awoniyi and Joe Aribo had quieter outings.
Awoniyi, introduced in the 83rd minute, had limited time to influence the game, while Aribo, still searching for consistency this season, failed to make an impression during Southampton’s loss.
At the end of the day, Forest moved level on points with second placed Arsenal in the title race, Southampton on the other hand are rooted 20th on the Premier League table with 6 points.
