By Monsurah Olatunji
Nigerian internationals Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu were the standout performers for Southampton, scoring in a crucial 2-1 win over Ipswich at Portman Road, helping the Saints put an end to their three-match losing streak.
Coach Ivan Juric has placed significant trust in the Nigerian duo since his arrival, and they both started for Southampton in this important clash.
Aribo opened the scoring in the 21st minute, meeting a looping pass into the box with a brilliant volley, using the outside of his foot to beat Ipswich goalkeeper Arijanet Muric.
Ipswich quickly responded in the 31st minute, with Liam Delap dribbling past Jan Bednarek before finishing coolly under Southampton’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale to level the score.
With the match nearing its conclusion, Onuachu became the hero, pouncing on a rebound after Kamaldeen Sulemana’s low shot was parried by Muric in the 87th minute.
The tall striker, unmarked in the box, fired the ball into the net to give Southampton the lead and seal a vital away victory.
This win not only ended Southampton’s losing streak but also lifted them off the bottom of the table, giving them a much-needed boost in their battle for survival.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
