Super Eagles’ stars sink deeper into EPL’s relegation zone as six clubs battle for survival

Manchester City’s Nathan Ake (left) tackles Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho during a recent EPL game

The past weekend was a bad one for Nigerian players in the English Premier League, as their clubs sank deeper into the relegation zone.

This season, no doubt, has been among the worst for Super Eagles players in recent years, with Alex Iwobi (Everton), Paul Onuachu and Joseph Aribo (Southampton), Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest), Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City) all at the risk of dropping down to the English Championship unless a miracle happens.

Iwobi’s Everton lost 1-3 at home to Fulham on Saturday, while Manchester City defeated Leicester City with the same margin. Iheanacho got the home team’s lone goal in the game.

The 26-year-old Iwobi, a mainstay of the Premier League team for a while now, his presence, however, has not changed anything for Sean Dyche’s side, which occupy the 17th position on the table.

Leicester City’s case has been the most surprising as the 2015/16 champion, had in the past two seasons, maintained mid table positions and at some point, even challenged for Europe.

Nottingham Forest, home to Dennis and Awoniyi, occupy the 18th position, albeit on goals difference from Everton, as both have the same 27 points from 30 matches.   Forest recruited Awoniyi from Union Berlin, where the 2013 U-17 World Cup winner had a really successful stay, but his presence in the former European champions, who gained promotion from the Championship, has not been as expected.   Yesterday against Manchester United, Awoniyi missed a good chance that would have given his side the fillip to battle the slide with seven matches left to go. Dennis was a late substitute in the game