As the 2024/25 English Premier League season draws to a close, a number of Nigerian footballers have found themselves on the unfortunate end of relegation battles, with some experiencing this setback multiple times throughout their careers.

Leicester City midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has suffered his second relegation with the Foxes this season. The 28-year-old Super Eagles star, who joined Leicester from Belgian side Genk in 2017, was first relegated during the 2022/2023 season. Despite Leicester's immediate return to the top flight, they have now dropped back to the Championship after just one season.

Southampton duo Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo have also experienced multiple relegations. Their fate was sealed following a recent 3-1 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur, marking their second Championship drop in three seasons. Onuachu joined the Saints midway through their 2022/23 relegation campaign, while Aribo arrived from Rangers in 2022.

Nigerian football legend Nwankwo Kanu, despite his decorated career that includes Premier League titles, UEFA Cup, and FA Cup victories, faced relegation twice. He went down with West Bromwich Albion during the 2005/2006 season and later with Portsmouth in 2009/2010.

Former striker Obafemi Martins, nicknamed "Obagoal" during his playing days, also experienced relegation on two occasions - with Newcastle United in 2008/2009 and Birmingham City in 2010/2011. Interestingly, Martins scored the winning goal in Birmingham's 2-1 League Cup final victory over Arsenal in 2011, shortly before departing for Russian club Rubin Kazan following their relegation.

Victor Moses presents a different case, having recently faced relegation with Luton Town from the Championship. The former Chelsea winger, who joined Luton on a free transfer last September after leaving Spartak Moscow, has already been released by the club following their 5-3 defeat to West Bromwich Albion that confirmed their drop.

Lagos-based journalist Femi Fabunmi, speaking on the situation, highlighted the contrast between Nigeria's approach to player selection and that of other nations: "In some European and South American countries, any player who doesn't feature in the top tier would never get an invitation for senior national team assignments no matter how good he is."

"Take for instance, the Three Lions of England will never feature a player in the Championship or Nationwide no matter how good such players are. It's a standing rule. However, it's not the same with Nigeria, here anything goes," Fabunmi added.

When asked whether these players should seek moves to remain in the Premier League, Fabunmi suggested they face no pressure to do so from a national team perspective: "Why should they leave? They do not have cause to worry now. They can always get an invitation to the Super Eagles, so it's not a big deal unless such players as a matter of personal principles or beliefs decide to leave."