Nigerian athletes will shine in prominent leagues this Sunday (today), as seven key games showcase talents who might significantly influence match outcomes, potentially determining titles, spots for European competitions, and relegations, according to PETER AKINBO’s report.

NIGERIA

Rivers United versus Remo Stars

The Nigerian Premier Football League championship may come down to when second-place team Rivers United faces off against current top-ranked side RemoStars in Port Harcourt.

After this weekend’s games, Remo Stars lead with a significant eight-point edge and an additional match over their nearest competitors, leaving only seven matches left in the season. Rivers United’s captain, Temple Emekayi, has called upon his team members to recover from recent setbacks.

“I understand it might take some time to get back into gear, but I believe the stakes in the league are motivating enough for everyone,” he said.
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Rivers United aim to bounce back after suffering two successive losses: a 1-0 defeat against Bayelsa United in the league and an unexpected 2-1 elimination by Beyond Limits FA in the President Federation Cup.

Each match at this point is incredibly significant, as it has been for some time,” Emekayi stated further. “The competition remains fierce and closely contested.” He continued, “Our primary objective is to secure a victory, which continues to be our main aim. However, I believe we shouldn’t focus too much on what lies ahead; instead, we must tackle each day and every game individually.

A victory for Rivers would reduce Remo Stars’ lead to just five points, injecting fresh hope into the championship contest. On the flip side, a loss could virtually secure the title for the team from Ikenne.

ENGLAND

Fulham versus Liverpool (Iwobi, Bassey)

When Liverpool travels to Craven Cottage on Sunday, Alex Iwobi will not only be playing for Fulham’s honor but also his own personal stakes. As one of the standout players from Nigeria along with teammate Calvin Bassey, Iwobi will play a crucial role in Fulham’s strategy against the team poised to clinch the title.

The ex-Arsenal player might help their alma mater in the championship contest as the Gunners trail the Reds by 12 points.

At the summit of the Premier League standings sits Liverpool with 73 points from 30 matches, and securing another win could help Slot’s team stay on track for their first championship since 2020.

This season, Iwobi has emerged as Fulham’s most impactful midfielder, scoring seven goals and providing three assists across 30 league matches. Although he was held out for the initial sixty minutes of Fulham’s close defeat against Arsenal earlier in the week, his introduction had a significant effect on the game.

His significance extends beyond mere goals to include his role in building up plays, as he leads all players in Europe’s top five leagues with 86 progressive carries into the final third. Given that Fulham has scored 28% of their league goals thanks to Iwobi’s direct contributions, he continues to be Marco Silva’s most dependable offensive option.

In the meantime, Calvin Bassey remained an unused substitute against Arsenal, probably being saved for this important match. The 25-year-old center-back has featured in 29 games overall this season and has found the net two times.

Tottenham versus Southampton (Aribo, Onuachu)

Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu may take part in a game that could potentially seal Southampton’s relegation from the Premier League at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Onuachu has netted four goals and contributed one assist across 20 matches played, and he is expected to be among those named on the substitutes’ bench.

Aribo, who has scored three goals in 29 appearances, is anticipated to move into the starting lineup as the Saints strive to prevent themselves from being the inaugural club to face relegation from the Premier League before matchday 31.

Currently at the bottom of the league standings with only 10 points, Southampton faces relegation if they lose against Tottenham and Wolves defeat Ipswich Town on Saturday.

For Spurs, the match represents a chance to rebuild momentum after a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Chelsea, with Ange Postecoglou expected to rotate his squad ahead of Thursday’s Europa League quarter-final against Eintracht Frankfurt.

SPAIN

Sevilla versus Atletico Madrid (Ejuke, Adams)

When Sevilla faces Atletico Madrid at the Estadio Ramon, Nigerian attackers Chidera Ejuke and Akor Adams aim to leave their mark on the match.

In last weekend’s match where Sevilla lost 2-1 to Real Betis, both players were involved. This was just Adams’ second game back after recovering from an injury. The forward is yet to score his maiden goal for Sevilla.

This season, Ejuke has scored two goals and provided one assist across his 19 appearances and continues to be a key offensive choice for Garcia Pimienta’s team, which currently ranks 11th in La Liga.

Meanwhile, Atletico Madrid aims to break a winless streak that dates back to early March. Under Diego Simeone, the team has seen their championship aspirations diminish recently, now occupying the third spot in the standings, nine points behind league leaders Barcelona.

Sevilla aims to dodge a third consecutive loss following defeats at the hands of Athletic Bilbao and Real Betis, whereas Atletico requires a win to hold onto their position in the Champions League qualifying spots.

ITALY

Atalanta versus Lazio (Lookman versus Dele-Bashiru)

On Sunday evening, two Nigerian internationals will go head-to-head in Bergamo when Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta takes on Fisayo Dele-Bashiru’s Lazio in an important Serie A match.

Both squads are struggling in their pursuit of UEFA Champions League qualification, as each side has failed to secure victory in their past two encounters. Atalanta has dropped their last pair of contests without finding the back of the net, whereas Lazio has only tasted success once over their previous six Serie A outings.

In their previous meeting in December, both Nigerian players left a notable mark, as Dele-Bashiru netted an impressive goal, while Lookman set up Atalanta’s equalizer in the 1-1 tie.

Marco Baroni, the Lazio coach, has recently encouraged Dele-Bashiru to enhance his play in the attacking area of the field.

In the meantime, Lookman aims to end his current scoring slump. Although he was among Serie A’s top threats early in the season, the Nigerian striker has found goals hard to come by in 2025.

PORTUGAL

Porto versus Benfica (Zaidu Sanusi)

The Super Eagles’ defender Zaidu Sanusi might play in Portugal’s major rivalry match as Porto hosts championship-seeking Benfica at Estadio do Dragon on Sunday.

This campaign, the left-back has found himself short of playing opportunities, managing only three league outings as he persists with his comeback from an extended anterior cruciate ligament injury.

Currently positioned as the third team in the Primeira Liga, Porto trails second-place Benfica by nine points, with both clubs competing closely against Sporting Lisbon for the championship. A win for Porto could strengthen their hold on a place in the UEFA Champions League and rejuvenate their diminishing chances of claiming the league title.

The final encounter between these two Portuguese powerhouses concluded with a decisive 4-1 loss for Porto. However, they can find encouragement in their latest match at Estadio do Dragoa, which resulted in a commanding 5-0 win.

TURKEY

Fenerbahce versus Trabzonspor (Bright Osayi-Samuel)

Bright Osayi-Samuel might be given the opportunity to begin the match as Fenerbahce faces off against Trabzonspor in one of Turkish soccer’s fiercest derbies.

The contract of the Nigerian defender comes to an end this season, and he has been connected with a potential move back to England. It is reported that both Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest have shown interest in securing his services.

José Mourinho’s team is now six points below the top spot held by Galatasaray and has an extra match to play. They will be eager for a win to maintain their chances of claiming the championship.

This season, Osayi-Samuel has played a crucial role for Fenerbahce, after a contentious conclusion to the prior campaign where he found himself at the center of a dispute following their second match against Trabzonspor in March 2024.

The situation became tense in the 87th minute following an incident where items were tossed onto the pitch after Michy Batshuayi netted what turned out to be the decisive goal for Fenerbahce. Chaos broke loose post-match as well, with one particular moment showing the defender exchanging blows with an unauthorized person who entered the field. However, the Turkish Football Federation later exonerated him from all accusations.

Trabzonspor aims to capitalize on their recent positive performance under new coach Fatih Tekke, who has guided them to one win and one draw in his initial two league games at the helm.

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