As the European football season approaches its conclusion, Nigerian talents find themselves at the forefront of both triumph and adversity. From competing for important league titles to fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation, these athletes demonstrate their tenacity and brilliance on the grand stage of European football.

Title chasers

Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella (Leverkusen)

Boniface and Tella are still on cloud nine after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga for the first time in the club's 120-year history.

On Saturday, the duo were part of the team as Leverkusen extended their unbeaten streak this season to 46 games across all competitions.

Both Nigerian attackers are still on track to complete a historic treble after reaching the DFB Pokal final and the Europa League semi-finals. Die Werkself will meet Roma in the Europa semi-finals on May 2 and 9, while the German Cup final versus Kaiserslautern is scheduled for May 25.

Ademola Lookman(Atalanta)

Lookman is on track to win two trophies with Atalanta this season. While competing for a European position in Serie A, the Italian side has advanced to the Coppa Italia final and the Europa League semi-finals.

Lookman played an important role in their 4-1 victory over Fiorentina in the second leg of their Coppa Italia semi-finals on Wednesday, scoring and assisting in extra time.

The 26-year-old and his team will face Marseille in the Europa League semifinals on May 2 and 9, and Juventus in the Cup final on May 15.

Cyriel Dessers and Leon Balogun (Rangers)

Nigerian forward Dessers and defender Balogun are also aiming for a double in Scotland, with the league and Cup still up for grabs.

Dessers scored twice in the Scottish Cup semi-finals against Hearts last Sunday, advancing the Gers to the competition's final, where they will meet eternal rivals Celtic United.

Rangers trail Celtic by three points with only five league games remaining this season, and they will also face off in the Scottish Cup final on May 25.

Gift Orban (Olimpique Lyon)

Orban joined the French giants in January and is already on track to win his first trophy with Olympique Lyonnais, who face Paris Saint-Germain in the French Cup final on May 25.

Orban stole the show in Lyon's dramatic Coupe de France semi-final against Valenciennes on April 2nd, only three minutes after being substituted in.

Lyon needed a spark to beat a determined Valenciennes team and go to the final. Lyon had already taken the lead with two goals from captain Lacazette, but Orban sealed the game with a crucial strike, securing a dominant 3-0 win.

The Zaidu Sanusi (Porto) Cup

Despite being denied a chance to win the Liga Portugal title for the second season in a row, defender Zaidu is still in contention for the Portuguese Cup, as Porto meet rivals Sporting Lisbon on May 26.

Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City)

After securing promotion to the Premier League after Leeds United were thrashed by Queens Park Rangers, Ndidi and Iheanacho can now win the Championship title on Monday with a victory over Preston.

The Foxes are still on course to reach 100 points on their journey back to the top division after being relegated last season, with 94 points from 44 games and two games to play.

Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahce)

Osayi-Samuel is in contention for the Turkish Super Lig title this season, with Fenerbahce four points behind leaders Galatasaray with four games remaining in the top level.

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)

The Foxes are still on track to earn 100 points in their return to the top league after being demoted last season, with 94 points from 44 games and two games remaining.

Bright Osayi Samuel (Fenerbahçe)

Osayi-Samuel is in contention for the Turkish Super Lig title this season, with Fenerbahce trailing leaders Galatasaray by four points with four games remaining.

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)

Onyedika has emerged as a rock in Brugge's midfield, as the Belgian club looks to win its first European trophy this season. Club Brugge has advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference, where they will face Fiorentina in two legs on May 2 and 9.

Peter Olayinka (Red Star Belgrade)

Olayinka will be eager to help Red Star Belgrade win the Serbian Super League title, since the team is currently 10 points ahead of the competition after 31 games.

The Tochi Chukwuani (Sturm Graz) League

Chukwuani, 21, has a chance to win his first professional title this season, as Sturm Graz leads RB Salzburg by three points in the Austrian Bundesliga.

Alhassan Yusuf, Chidera Ejuke and George Ilenikhena (Royal Antwerp).

The Nigerian trio might rejoice among other domestic cup winners in May, as they prepare for a final against Union Saint-Gilloise on May 9.

Relegation battlers

Eight Nigerian footballers face relegation from Europe's top leagues.

Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Gabriel Osho, Elijah Adebayo, Maduka Okoye, Isaac Success, Kingsley Ehizibue, and Ezekiel Henty are among the European players that face relegation to the second tier divisions if their respective teams do not perform spectacularly in the remaining games.

With three games remaining in the English Premier League, Nottingham Forest's (who feature Aina and Awoniyi) prospects of escaping relegation hang in the balance.

The Reds find themselves in a dangerous situation, one point above the dreaded dotted line.

With Sheffield United already relegated, it appears like the Reds, Burnley, and Luton Town will compete for the remaining two relegation positions.

As things stand, data analysts Opta believe Forest has the best chance of survival among the pack. Nuno's men are said to have a 35.78 percent likelihood of relegation, the Hatters have a 71.70 percent chance, and Burnley's is 92.46 percent.
According to Opta, in their season simulations conducted after midweek matchups, the Reds averaged 30 points in the final reckoning, with four points coming from their final four matches. They face a difficult task in earning any of those points against Manchester City on Sunday.

For Luton Town. their quest to stay in English topflight further hit following their 2-1 loss to Wolves on Saturday.

Osho and Adebayo have played key roles in the Hatters' top-flight season.

Adebayo, who returned to action against Wolves on Saturday after missing 11 weeks due to a hamstring injury, is Luton's joint best scorer in the Premier League this season, with nine goals in 24 league appearances alongside Calton Morris.

Luton have only won once in their previous 14 league games and are 18th, one point behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, who visit Manchester City on Sunday.

Osho, for his part, has helped Luton to two clean sheets, four wins, and four ties in the EPL. The 26-year-old has played 18 for the Hatters, scoring twice from his defensive positions.

In Serie A, Okoye, Ehizibue, and Success might all leave Udinese if their performances do not improve. The Zebrette are one of six teams vying for two relegation spots, along with Salernitana from Serie B.

Udinese, who are currently 18th in the Italian league table with 28 points from 33 games, have lost four and drawn one of their previous five games.


Another loss for Udinese away to Bologna on Sunday at the Dall'Ara stadium, where they have failed to win in their last five visits, puts the team's 2023/24 season in jeopardy.