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Aina’s Forest triumph over Reds
Super Eagles stars Wilfred Ndidi and Ola Aina had standout performances in the Premier League on Saturday, with Ndidi providing two assists in Leicester City’s 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace, while Aina played a key role in Nottingham Forest’s shock 1-0 victory over Liverpool.
At Selhurst Park, Ndidi was instrumental for Leicester, setting up both of their goals as they came close to securing their first win of the season. The Nigerian midfielder first assisted Jamie Vardy in the 27th minute, threading a precise pass for the striker to round Crystal Palace goalkeeper Dean Henderson and slot the ball home.
Ndidi’s second assist came moments into the second half, capitalizing on a poor clearance by Palace debutant Maxence Lacroix. He laid off a perfect pass to Stephy Mavididi, who fired past Henderson to double the Foxes’ lead.
However, Leicester’s two-goal advantage was undone in the second half. Palace pulled one back through Jean-Philippe Mateta in the 77th minute and equalized in stoppage time with a penalty after Conor Coady fouled Ismaila Sarr. Mateta stepped up and calmly converted, leaving the Foxes without a win after four games.
At Anfield, Ola Aina starred for Nottingham Forest in a memorable 1-0 win over Liverpool. The Nigerian defender played the full 90 minutes and was outstanding in neutralizing Liverpool’s attack, particularly dealing with Luis Diaz.
Aina’s most crucial contribution came when he cleared a goal-bound effort off the line, denying Diaz in the first half. Despite Liverpool’s dominance in possession and several chances, including Diaz hitting the post, Forest stood firm.
The match was decided by Callum Hudson-Odoi’s spectacular second-half goal. The substitute curled in a beautiful strike from the edge of the box to hand Forest their first win at Anfield since 1969. Aina’s disciplined defensive display was key in keeping Liverpool at bay as Nuno Espirito Santo’s side continued their unbeaten start to the season.
Meanwhile, Taiwo Awoniyi was an unused substitute for Forest, and Emmanuel Dennis was not part of the matchday squad.
Elsewhere, Joe Aribo’s Southampton suffered a 3-0 defeat against Manchester United at St Mary’s Stadium. The Nigerian midfielder was left on the bench as the Saints’ struggles continued with another loss, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table.
The weekend’s action underscored the influence of Nigerian players in the Premier League, with Ndidi and Aina playing pivotal roles for their teams. As the season progresses, both will look to build on these performances and further solidify their status in England’s top flight.
