PSG and Arsenal will clash at the Puskás Aréna in Budapest for the UEFA Champions League final on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The tie promises to deliver a lot of excitement given the sheer quality of the two teams involved. Arsenal are coming off a historic Premier League triumph, while Les Parisiens are the perennial kings of French football, having claimed the Ligue 1 title in 12 of the last 14 seasons.
Both sides boast very different tactical approaches. PSG rely heavily on their intricate, high-octane attack, backed by a disciplined and structured defensive shape.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have built a reputation for being defensively resilient and ultra-organized, while remaining notorious for capitalizing on set-pieces through highly complicated routines.
For fans of both clubs, this fixture is an opportunity to make history. The Gunners have never won the Champions League and are desperate to secure their maiden European crown. Meanwhile, PSG enter the tie as the defending champions, eager to retain their throne and capture back-to-back titles.
For neutral supporters, the match is simply a guarantee of high-quality football. However, many Nigerian neutrals will find themselves leaning toward one specific side when the whistle blows. Here is why.
Why Most Nigerian Neutrals Will Be Supporting Arsenal
Heading into the blockbuster showdown, a large number of Nigerian football fans will likely throw their weight behind Arsenal.
The reason is simple: the Gunners currently have three players of Nigerian descent on their roster, while PSG have none. Arsenal’s squad features Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke.
All three stars were born in England to Nigerian parents, making them eligible to represent either nation on the international stage before they committed their futures to the Three Lions.
Despite choosing England, there is no love lost. The players—particularly Saka and Eze—frequently find ways to connect with their heritage.
For instance, Eze celebrated an Igbo-themed wedding in London last year. Saka also made headlines three years ago during a visit to Lagos, where he visited the Government House in Alausa to meet with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
As for Madueke, while he has not visited the country recently, he has fondly recalled childhood trips to Nigeria in past interviews.
All three figures are integral to Mikel Arteta’s setup and could easily emerge as the difference-makers in Budapest.
Shades of the Past: The Nwankwo Kanu Effect
Aside from the current crop of stars, another major reason Nigerian neutrals will pitch their tent with the Gunners is Super Eagles legend Nwankwo Kanu.
Kanu was the main catalyst for the massive rise in Nigerian Arsenal fans in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The forward spent five years in North London, consistently producing brilliant performances on the pitch. Notably, he was a key member of the iconic “Invincibles” squad that went 49 league games unbeaten between May 2003 and October 2004.
Consequently, it is no surprise that fans in their 40s and older—who watched Kanu fly the Nigerian flag proudly at Highbury—will lean on nostalgia to support Arsenal in Hungary.
It remains to be seen who will lift the iconic trophy this weekend. But given how passionately Arsenal fans are already celebrating their Premier League success, a Champions League victory will undoubtedly take the noise to an entirely new level.
