Ghanaian striker Eddie Nketiah has etched his name into English football history after helping Crystal Palace secure the 2025/26 UEFA Europa Conference League title, marking the club’s first-ever European trophy .
The former Arsenal forward, who represents Ghana internationally, played a crucial role in the Eagles’ historic campaign. Nketiah’s contribution to Palace’s success this season includes two Premier League goals, with the 26-year-old averaging 0.43 goals per 90 minutes in league action . Crystal Palace now stands as the 14th English club to win a major European competition, joining an elite list that includes Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester United .
Palace’s triumph adds to an impressive season for English clubs in European competition. Aston Villa previously clinched the Europa League title, while Arsenal remain in contention for the Champions League crown .
Ghanaian Stars Shine Bright
Nketiah’s success is part of a broader celebration for Ghanaian football on the European stage. The celebrations come on the heels of another breathtaking moment for Ghanaian talent, as Antoine Semenyo produced “one of the great FA Cup final goals” with an audacious back-flick to secure a 1-0 win for Manchester City over Chelsea at Wembley .
The Black Stars are building significant momentum ahead of the 2026 World Cup, where they face England, Croatia, and Panama in Group L .
Nigerian Contingent Trophy-less in Europe
In stark contrast, the 2025/26 season has ended without a single Nigerian player lifting a European club trophy. While Nigerian stars enjoyed domestic success across various leagues—including Victor Osimhen’s Turkish Super Lig triumph with Galatasaray, Kelechi Iheanacho’s Scottish Premiership and Cup double with Celtic, and Zaidu Sanusi’s Liga Portugal title with Porto—European silverware remained elusive .
The closest Nigerian players came to continental glory was through Ademola Lookman, who found the net for Atletico Madrid in La Liga but could not propel his side to European success .
Full Oloshos: The Numbers Behind the Narrative
The statistical breakdown makes for compelling reading:
🏆 European Trophy Winners 2025/26:
· Europa Conference League: Crystal Palace (Eddie Nketiah – Ghana)
· Europa League: Aston Villa
· Champions League: TBD (Arsenal in contention)
🇳🇬 Nigerian Domestic Champions (Non-European):
· Victor Osimhen – Turkish Super Lig (Galatasaray)
· Kelechi Iheanacho – Scottish Premiership & Cup (Celtic)
· Zaidu Sanusi & Terem Moffi – Liga Portugal (Porto)
· Raphael Onyedika – Belgian Pro League (Club Brugge)
· Francis Uzoho – Cypriot First Division (Omonia Nicosia)
· Igoh Ogbu – Czech First League (Slavia Prague)
· Semi Ajayi – English Championship Play-off winner (Hull City)
🇳🇬 Nigerian Women’s Success:
· Christy Ucheibe – Taça de Portugal Feminina, Taça de Liga Feminina, Super Taça (Benfica)
· Shukurat Oladipo – Serie A Femminile winner & Best Defender (AS Roma)
· Rinsola Babajide – Serie A Femminile winner (AS Roma)
While Nigerian players dominated domestic leagues across the continent, the absence of a European winners’ medal for the Super Eagles contingent this season remains a notable statistic. The Nigeria Football Federation, however, has heaped plaudits on its players, describing their achievements as “proof of their quality, class, and consistency” .
For Ghana and Crystal Palace fans, this season will be remembered as the campaign where Nketiah and the Eagles soared to historic heights, while their Nigerian rivals watched from the sidelines.
