As the English FA Cup quarter-finals kicks off today in English, Nigeria internationals Ola Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi, Alex Iwobi, and Calvin Bassey are set to play pivotal roles for their respective clubs.
Fulham will host Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage, with both teams aiming for a historic semi-final berth.
Fulham’s recent form includes a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Manchester United in the previous round, highlighted by a crucial goal from Bassey.
However, they face a challenging statistic, having been eliminated in their last four FA Cup quarter-final appearances since reaching the semi-finals in 2002.
Iwobi has been instrumental for Fulham this season, contributing seven goals and four assists in 29 Premier League games, while Bassey has added one goal in 28 league appearances.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, has a strong record in FA Cup quarter-finals, winning four of their last five ties.
Notably, they remain unbeaten in their last six away games against Fulham, a streak dating back to 2005.
In another quarter-final clash, Nottingham Forest’s Aina and Awoniyi will face Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium.
Forest, currently third in the Premier League, may rely on Awoniyi to lead their attack, especially with top scorer Chris Wood potentially sidelined due to injury concerns.
Aina, who has featured in 29 games this season with two goals and one assist, will be crucial in stabilising Forest’s defense against Brighton’s potent offense.
These matches not only offer a chance for club progression but also an opportunity for these Nigerian players to showcase their resilience and form following a mixed international break.
