HOW AND WHY THE SUPER EAGLES ARE FIGHTING RELEGATION

Victor Osimhen made history on Thursday night by becoming a Napoli legend.

In the 52nd minute, the 23-year-old scored the equalizer to tie the game with Udinese at one.

This outcome made it official that Spalletti's team had won the Serie A title.

For the first time in 33 years, Osimhen's 22 league goals have propelled Napoli to the Scudetto.

For some of his Super Eagles teammates, especially those who live in England, the situation is different.

Nearly half of Jose Peseiro's starting lineup are involved in the relegation battle.

Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City), Alex Iwobi (Everton), Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu (Southampton), Taiwo Awoniyi and Emmanuel Dennis (Nottingham Forest) are not sure their clubs will still be in the topflight by the end of May.

It's a big cry from when John Obi Mikel and Kanu Nwankwo respectively played key roles in Chelsea and Arsenal's Premier League championship seasons.

"I would say this season is unique in this respect. Typically, while Nigerian players have not often troubled the top of the table, they have tended to at least be secure in their leagues: lower mid table at worst. So this is sort of new," "This is actually pretty unprecedented," Solace Chukwu said.

So, what might be the underlying reason for this? Choosing the wrong clubs?

"I don't think there is one blanket explanation, to be honest.

"Wrong choice of club explains some (e.g Paul Onuachu to Southampton), but I think in some other cases, it's simply a function of the unpredictability at the foot of the table.

"Neither Wilfred Ndidi or Kelechi Iheanacho, for instance, could realistically have seen Leicester struggling as they have.

"Neither Wilfred Ndidi or Kelechi Iheanacho, for instance, could realistically have seen Leicester struggling as they have.

"However, if there is one common thread for the sides struggling, it is a sense of stagnation, of not pushing ahead and taking the next step when the situation demands it.

"In such a competitive league, to borrow a cliché, to stand still is to go backwards," Chukwu explained.

This Premier League season has been very competitive, in fact.

From the title race through the competition for the top four spots to the fierce fight against the decline.

"I think, overall, the level of the Premier League is higher than it has been for a while, specifically in terms of quality (of players) across the board.

"Even the weaker clubs can call on high-level talent.

"There are few genuinely bad teams, and that is clear from the fact that, at this late stage, no team has been cut adrift just yet. That has lent itself to a very competitive title race," Chukwu added.