Nigerian players will be in the spotlight when Nottingham Forest host FC Porto in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final tie at the City Ground on Thursday.
Defender Ola Aina is the only Super Eagles player in the Forest squad and could feature against compatriots Terem Moffi and Zaidu Sanusi, who were both involved in the first leg in Portugal. That encounter finished 1-1, leaving qualification finely balanced heading into the decisive return fixture.
Forest approach the game amid mounting pressure in the Premier League, where they remain locked in a relegation battle. Their 1-1 draw against Aston Villa at the weekend offered some respite, keeping them just above the drop zone, but their recent home form presents a concern.
The English side have struggled at the City Ground in Europe this season, losing three matches already. Another defeat would see them set an unwanted record of four home losses in a single European campaign by an English club. They have also recorded just one win in their last 11 home games across all competitions.
Aina, who was an unused substitute in the first leg, has featured six times in the Europa League this season and will be aiming to play a part in what could be a defining fixture for Forest.
Porto, meanwhile, arrive in strong form. The Portuguese champions extended their lead at the top of the Primeira Liga with a 3-1 victory over Estoril Praia, stretching their unbeaten run in all competitions to eight matches.
They have also been effective away from home, winning their last three matches on the road, including a crucial victory over Stuttgart in the previous round.
However, Porto’s record in second-leg ties in European competitions remains a concern, with just four wins in their last 22 such fixtures.
Forest will take confidence from their earlier 2-0 win over Porto at the City Ground during the league phase, a result that contributed to the Portuguese side’s recent struggles against English opposition in the competition.
Moffi will be keen to make a stronger impact after a subdued outing in the first leg, where he came under pressure from sections of the home supporters. The forward has scored once in three Europa League appearances since his move from Nice in January.
Sanusi has also contributed to Porto’s campaign, registering one assist in seven appearances.
With a place in the semi-finals at stake, Thursday’s encounter is expected to be closely contested, with Nigerian players potentially playing decisive roles in the outcome.
