Nigerian players return to Premier League action this weekend with different challenges awaiting them, from Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey’s trip to Ipswich to Ola Aina’s visit to Crystal Palace and Semi Ajayi’s home game against Everton. Femi Azeez is also pushing for his Brighton debut after an injury delayed his start to life at the club, PETER AKINBO writes

Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey (Fulham)

Iwobi and Bassey face an important away test against Ipswich on Saturday as Fulham seek to improve on a difficult start to the campaign.

Iwobi has featured in all five league games, starting each one and playing 411 minutes. He is yet to score or assist, but remains an important creative outlet for Marco Silva’s side. Bassey has also started all five matches, completing 450 minutes and recording 352 passes at a 90 per cent completion rate.

Fulham have collected only two points from their opening five games and sit 19th, making the trip to Ipswich an opportunity to get their season moving in the right direction.

Ola Aina (Nottingham Forest)

Aina and Nottingham Forest travel to Crystal Palace on Sunday, with the Nigerian full-back looking to help his side build consistency after an uneven opening to the season.

He started Forest’s first four league matches, playing 306 minutes, before missing the matchday action against Coventry in their last outing. He has yet to register a goal or assist this season.

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Forest have five points from their opening five games and sit 13th. Their visit to Palace presents a chance to move up the table.

Semi Ajayi (Hull City)

Ajayi has been a regular in Hull’s defence since the club returned to the Premier League, starting all five league matches and playing 423 minutes.

The centre-back has also contributed at the other end, scoring in Hull’s opening-day 2-0 win over Manchester United. He will be looking to help Hull respond when Everton visit on Sunday after consecutive defeats against Newcastle and Chelsea interrupted their promising start.

Hull sit eighth with eight points from five matches, and a positive result against Everton would strengthen their position in the upper half of the table.

Taiwo Awoniyi, Frank Onyeka (Coventry City)

Awoniyi and Onyeka face Newcastle United on Monday night as Coventry seek to build momentum in their return to the Premier League.

Awoniyi has made five league appearances, including one from the bench, and scored once in the league cup. The striker is still searching for his first Premier League goal of the campaign.

Onyeka has started four of Coventry’s five league matches and played 316 minutes, providing energy and defensive work in midfield. He has yet to score or assist.

Coventry have three points from five games and sit 18th.

Femi Azeez, Zadok Yohanna (Brighton)

Azeez and Yohanna offer two different Nigerian storylines as Brighton travel to Sunderland on Saturday, with one chasing his debut and the other looking to build on his first taste of Premier League football.

Azeez has yet to feature competitively for Brighton since joining from Millwall on September 2, having arrived with a hamstring problem.

He returned to first-team training ahead of the Sunderland trip, but head coach Fabian Hurzeler confirmed he remained unavailable for selection as he continued his recovery.

Yohanna, meanwhile, has made one Premier League appearance for Brighton this season, playing 13 minutes so far. The 19-year-old joined from Swedish club AIK in the summer after recording five goals and four assists in 18 appearances across league and cup competitions in 2026.

Brighton sit third with 10 points from five matches, having scored 16 goals. Yohanna will hope to earn further opportunities, while Azeez must first regain full fitness before making his competitive debut.

Benjamin Fredrick (Brentford)

Fredrick is a young Nigerian defender whose progress at Brentford deserves attention as the club resumes their campaign away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

The centre-back has been involved in Nigeria’s international set-up and is working towards establishing himself in senior club football. His inclusion in Brentford’s 2026/27 squad provides a basis for tracking his development, although it does not guarantee first-team involvement.

For a Nigerian player still building his career in England, opportunities around the first team will be important. His progress is worth monitoring as Brentford continue their season. (PUNCH)