Kelechi Nwakali, Simy Nwankwo, Other Nigerian Players Who Couldn’t Save Their Clubs From Relegation

• Kelechi Nwakali and some Nigerian stars suffered relegation with their clubs
• The 2023-24 season ended on a bad note for nine Nigerian players in Europe
• Sports Brief looks at the West African nations' stars who suffered relegation

Some Nigerian players who play their club football in Europe needed a better ending to 2023-24, as their teams suffered a drop to the lower division.

The English Premier League, French Ligue 1, German Bundesliga, and some other leagues played their last league game over the weekend, while countries like Spain, Italy, and Turkey still have one or two matches to go.

With the season coming to a close, Sports Brief looks at Nigerian players who could not save their European clubs from relegation this campaign.

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9 Nigerian players whose European clubs were relegated

1. Kelechi Nwakali, Junior Pius (Chaves, Portugal)

Super Eagles midfielder, Kelechi Nwakali, and, Junior Puis, could not help Chaves stay in the Portuguese top flight as they dropped to Liga Portugal 2.

The Portuguese club finished last on the league table with 23 points from 34 games.

2. Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi, Simy Nwankwo (Salernitana, Italy)

Two Nigerian forwards, Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi and Simy Nwankwo, will play in Serie B next season after Salernitana failed to escape relegation this campaign.

Simy scored just one goal in 14 league games, while Ikwuemesi scored the same goal but in 25 appearances.

3. Bonke Innocent (Lorient, France)

Bonke's Lorient failed to secure a relegation play-off place despite thrashing Clermont Foot 5-0 on the final day of the French Ligue 1 season.

Lorient will play in Ligue 2 next season and hope to make the top flight in the 2025-26 campaign.

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4. Elijah Adebayo, Gabriel Osho, Fred Onyedinma (Luton Town, England)

Gabriel Osho and Elijah Adebayo could not keep Luton Town in the Premier League as they lost the relegation battle to Nottingham Forest.

Rob Edwards' side, alongside Burnley and Sheffield United, will return to the EFL Championship next season.

5. Emeka Friday Eze (Pendikspor, Turkey)

Nigerian forward Eze and his Pendikspor teammate will play in the Turkish league's second division next season. The club finished 19th on the Super Lig table.

The former Adanaspor striker could not find the back of the net in eight league games this campaign.

Nwakali faces disciplinary case in Portugal

Sports Brief earlier reported that Chaves had opened a disciplinary case against Nwakali following his actions during their league game against FC Famalicao.

The Super Eagles midfielder is no stranger to disciplinary issues and found himself in hot water with a club once more.