English Premier League club, Watford, have been relegated to the Championship after falling to Crystal Palace on Saturday.
Super Eagles vice-captain, William Troost Ekong and other four Nigerian players – Samuel Kalu, Maduka Okoye, Bonaventure Dennis and Oghenekaro Etebo – all play for Watford.
At Selhurst Park, Watford needed a win to keep alive their faint hopes of avoiding the drop, but Wilfried Zaha’s first-half penalty was enough to condemn them to relegation.
With three games still to play, second-bottom Watford are certain to drop into the Championship 12 months after winning promotion as second-tier runners-up.
The Hornets will head into the close season looking for a new boss after their current manager Roy Hodgson confirmed he would not be extending his short-term contract.
Hodgson, 74, was unable to rescue Watford after replacing the sacked Claudio Ranieri in January to become the club’s third manager this term following Xisco’s dismissal in October.
Watford never really got going as Palace took control early on. France Under-21 winger Olise, one of five players recalled by Eagles boss Patrick Vieira, created the home side’s first chance after five minutes when Marc Guehi headed his teasing cross over the bar.
Olise was also involved in the first-half’s key moment when his header from Eberechi Eze’s left-wing cross struck Watford full-back Kamara’s outstretched arm.
Graham Scott pointed to the spot, and while Kamara claimed Olise had pushed him in the back, a VAR review upheld the referee’s decision, allowing Zaha to add to the double he netted in Palace’s 4-1 win over Watford in February.
While Watford needed to score twice, it was Palace who looked like grabbing the game’s second goal with Odsonne Edouard almost netting a superb solo goal just after the hour, dancing his way through the visitors’ defence before hitting the post from a tight angle.
With Kamara sent off on 68 minutes, Palace cruised to victory.
Join Daily Trust WhatsApp Community For Quick Access To News and Happenings Around You.
