Super Eagles stats Paul Onuachu and Joe Aribo have been relegated from the English Premier League with Southampton after a 3-1 loss to Tottenham on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Saints traveled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday to take on Tottenham in their matchday 31 fixture. Going into the game, the Saints were on 10 points and needed to avoid a defeat to keep their hopes of surviving the drop alive.
Aribo was named in the starting lineup, while big striker Onuachu, started from the bench as he was not fully fit for the game.
Southampton have been abysmal this season, and they were the underdogs going into the game. As expected, Tottenham controlled the game from the blast of the whistle, and it took them 14 minutes to find the net, courtesy of Brennan Johnson.
Ange Postecoglou's men thought they had scored their second goal in the 33rd minute after Lucas Bergvall put the ball in the net. But Lucas Bergvall's goal was ruled out for offside.
Then, in the 42nd minute, Tottenham struck again through Johnson, who made it 2-0, putting Spurs comfortably in the driver's seat.
Aribo could not do much from the middle of the park, as his team was outplayed. He was eventually taken off for William Smallbone in the 63rd minute. Then, 10 minutes after that, Onuachu was introduced into the game.
His introduction added an extra bite to the Saints' forward line, as they started to look more dangerous after that.
Southampton got a lifeline after Kamaldeen Sulemana scored in the 89th minute. However, Mathys Tel struck from the penalty spot in stoppage time to seal the win for the Saints.
Today’s result confirms our place in the Championship next season. pic.twitter.com/Dt3NqqkoIt
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 6, 2025
The loss condemns Southampton to Championship football next season, barring any eventuality.
The Saints are now the earliest club to get relegated in Premier League history, breaking Derby County and Huddersfield's records of getting relegated in matchday 32.
What next for Onuachu and Aribo?
This is the second time that Onuachu and Aribo will get relegated with Southampton. And unfortunately for them, they did not have sparkling campaigns to attract interest from other clubs.
Aribo has played Championship football in the past, so it is likely that he will remain with Southampton next season. However, Onuachu has been continually linked with a transfer to Turkey, so he could change clubs.
Unfortunately for him, he will not be an enticing prospect for any other Premier League club due to his age. Nonetheless, anything can still happen.
