Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, sealed their relegation from the Premier League, condemning Super Eagles players Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo, along with Nigeria Football Federation target Lesley Ugochukwu, to the Championship next season.
Aribo and Ugochukwu both started the match, with Aribo continuing his regular role in midfield.
Ugochukwu, who was loaned out to the Saints last summer, looked to drive the team forward but could not prevent their slide into relegation.
Despite their best efforts, Southampton’s defense faltered under pressure, and the attacking spark was too often absent.
Tottenham took an early lead when Brennan Johnson fired a stunning shot into the top corner in the 13th minute, and although Aribo and Ugochukwu tried to push for a response, the game slipped further away when Johnson added a second just before halftime.
Ugochukwu showed his typical work rate, but the Southampton midfield could not get past Spurs’ dominance.
Onuachu was introduced in the second half, coming on in the 73rd minute, but even the towering striker could not make a significant impact in the final stages.
Although he had a few chances, including a header that missed the target, the result was already sealed as Spurs managed to control the tempo, with Mathys Tel scoring a stoppage-time penalty to ensure Southampton’s relegation.
For Onuachu and Aribo this marks a heartbreaking end to their top-flight campaign, while Ugochukwu is expected to return to parent club Chelsea at the end of the season.
While Onuachu and Aribo are already established Super Eagles players, Ugochukwu remains committed to the French national team though he is one of the dual-national players on the radar of Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle.
