Southampton head coach Ivan Juric hailed the performances of Nigerian duo Joe Aribo and Paul Onuachu after their crucial goals secured a 2-1 win over Ipswich Town at Portman Road, MySportDab Reports.
The Saints had endured a dismal season, recording just one victory in their previous 23 league matches, leaving them at the bottom of the Premier League table.
However, Aribo’s early strike and Onuachu’s late winner earned Juric his first victory since taking charge of the struggling side.
“It’s a great feeling,” Juric told the club’s official website. “I think we’ve had better games, like against Manchester United, but we didn’t take the points. Today, we suffered at times, but the guys showed great character, and we deserved it.”
Aribo opened the scoring with a composed finish, while Onuachu sealed the victory in the dying minutes after a brilliant assist from Kamaldeen Sulemana. Juric praised the Nigerian striker for his determination. “Paul deserved it because he worked hard. It’s his second goal, and I believe he can score more. He showed great quality today,” the Croatian coach said.
The former Roma boss also lauded Aribo’s versatility, highlighting his selfless contribution. “Joe is a great guy who always puts the team first. He doesn’t care where he plays—forward, midfield, or defence. Today, he even played as a left centre-back in the second half and was outstanding,” Juric added.
Despite the win, Southampton remain in deep trouble, sitting at the foot of the table with just nine points from 24 games. A miraculous turnaround is needed to avoid relegation to the EFL Championship.
The Saints will hope their Nigerian stars can continue to deliver as they fight for Premier League survival in the remaining games.
