Nigerian teenagers benched as Spurs make history as lowest finishers in PL to win a European trophy

Nigeria-eligible teenagers Callum Olusesi and Damola Ajayi were unused substitutes as Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up a dismal 2024–2025 Premier League campaign with a 4–1 home defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday.

Olusesi, a midfielder, was named in the matchday squad for the fourteenth time this season without making his Premier League debut, while forward Ajayi received his fifth call-up.

Both youngsters also traveled with the first team for the Europa League final against Manchester United, where they received winners' medals despite not featuring.

Ajayi remained on the bench, while Olusesi was left out of the squad.

Despite Spurs having no relegation threat on the final day, manager Ange Postecoglou chose not to blood the promising Nigerian duo.

Tottenham led 1–0 at halftime thanks to a Dominic Solanke penalty, but Brighton stormed back with second-half goals from Jack Hinshelwood (2), Matt O'Riley and Diego Gomez to seal victory and an eighth-place finish.

According to The BBC, Spurs set a new record as the lowest-ranked Premier League team to win a European trophy.

They ended the league season 17th with 38 points — lower than West Ham’s 14th-place finish in their 2022–23 Conference League-winning season — and suffered 22 defeats, the most ever by a non-relegated Premier League side.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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