From the Premier League to Serie A and La Liga, what began as promising campaigns have unravelled into tense battles at the bottom for some Nigerian stars who are staring at the very real threat of relegation as the season enters its decisive stretch. PUNCH Sports Extra in this piece puts the spotlight on such Nigerian players.

TOLU AROKODARE (WOLVES)

This is not the kind of start Tolu Arokodare would have hoped for in his first Premier League season. The lanky striker joined Wolverhampton Wanderers from KRC Genk last summer and initially looked poised to make a strong impact.

However, the club has struggled since the start of the campaign, limiting his influence. He has made 28 league appearances, scored three goals and providing one assist. Wolves currently sit bottom of the table with 17 points from 33 matches and appear destined for relegation to the Championship. Their fate could be sealed in their next fixture against Tottenham Hotspur.

AINA, AWONIYI (NOTTINGHAM FOREST)

This time last season, Nottingham Forest were pushing for European football and have even reached a European semi-final this campaign.

A year later, they are battling to stay in the league. Ola Aina and Taiwo Awoniyi are working hard to help salvage their domestic season. With five games remaining, Forest sit 16th on 36 points, five points above the relegation zone.

Aina’s involvement has been limited to 17 appearances due to injury, while Awoniyi has struggled to secure a consistent starting role, featuring in 12 games and scoring two goals.

AKOR ADAMS, CHIDERA EJUKE (SEVILLA)

In La Liga, Akor Adams has emerged as a key attacking figure for Sevilla FC, but the team still faces a serious relegation threat.

With just one win in their last four matches, Sevilla sit only two places and two points above the drop zone, with 34 points from 31 games. Adams has scored eight goals in 28 appearances, while Chidera Ejuke has contributed one goal and one assist in 22 matches.

They may need as many as 19 points from their remaining fixtures to guarantee survival.

CHIDOZIE AWAZIEM (NANTES)

Chidozie Awaziem’s return to France with FC Nantes has not gone as planned.

The club has managed just four wins in 29 matches and currently sits five points adrift of safety. Awaziem has played 23 league games, scoring once and providing two assists, but will need to help inspire a turnaround in their final fixtures.

AKINSANMIRO, DUROSINMI (PISA)

Ebenezer Akinsanmiro and Rafiu Durosinmi look set for relegation with Pisa SC rooted to the bottom of the table with 18 points from 33 matches.

Akinsanmiro is expected to return to parent club Inter Milan at the end of the season, while Durosinmi—who joined in January as a record signing—may go down with the team. He has made 11 appearances, recording one goal and one assist.

To have any chance of survival, Pisa must win all remaining matches and hope for favourable results elsewhere.

GIFT ORBAN (HELLAS VERONA)

Gift Orban is currently enduring a goal drought, failing to score in his last nine Serie A appearances.

His struggles mirror those of Hellas Verona FC, who sit 19th with 18 points from 33 games and face an uphill battle to avoid relegation.

DAVID OKEREKE (CREMONESE)

David Okereke has had a delayed start to the season, making just seven appearances for US Cremonese.

The team sits just the relegation zone with 27 points, only one point clear of 18th place th five games remaining, they must continue grinding out results to secure survival.

BONIFACE, AGU (WERDER BREMEN)

Victor Boniface joined Werder Bremen on loan in a bid to regain form, but injuries have disrupted his campaign. Before undergoing surgery, he made 11 appearances, registering two assists.

It remains unclear whether he will return in time to aid their survival push, though he is expected to return to parent club Bayer Leverkusen regardless.

Meanwhile, Felix Agu has also been limited by injury, making just 11 appearances and currently sidelined with a muscle problem.