Aribo shines as Southampton bag Premier League promotion

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Nigerian midfielder Joe Aribo delivered an impressive performance as Southampton secured promotion back to the Premier League with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Leeds United in the Championship playoff final at Wembley Stadium.

Aribo played a pivotal role for Southampton throughout the playoffs, starting all three matches contested by the Saints. The team, which was the only side to achieve a league double over Leeds during the campaign, clinched their third win at the National Stadium with top scorer Adam Armstrong netting the decisive goal in the first half.

Twenty-four minutes into the contest, Armstrong found the bottom corner with a brilliant finish after being played through on goal by Will Smallbone.

The promotion means Southampton is set to receive a windfall of at least $178 million, according to an analysis from Deloitte’s Sports Business Group.

Aribo, who played the entire match, showcased his skills and composure, completing 84% of his passes, creating one chance, and making one key pass. His performance also included the most dribbles in the game, highlighting his influence on the field.

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Southampton’s victory means the club will join Leicester City and Ipswich Town, who secured automatic promotion, in the Premier League for the 2024/25 season.

Leeds United, managed by Daniel Farke, must now prepare for another challenging season in the Championship after falling just short in the final.

For Joe Aribo, the return to the Premier League marks a significant achievement after experiencing relegation with Southampton last season. His standout performance in the final is likely to catch the attention of new Super Eagles manager Finidi George, from whom Aribo was initially overlooked for World Cup qualification games against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.