In a thrilling FA Cup final at Wembley on Saturday, Nigeria-born Eberechi Eze became the hero as Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City 1-0 to claim their first major trophy in the club’s 118-year history.
The England international, whose parents hail from Nigeria, struck a superb first-half volley to send the Palace fans into frenzy and secure a historic victory against the Premier League giants.
Palace Defy the Odds
Despite being dominated for long periods, Oliver Glasner’s side held firm, with goalkeeper Dean Henderson making crucial saves, including a penalty stop from Omar Marmoush, to deny Pep Guardiola’s wasteful City side.
Eze’s 16th-minute winner came against the run of play, as Palace capitalised on their first real attack. The 25-year-old playmaker, who had also been instrumental in their semi-final and quarter-final wins, pounced on a cross from Daniel Muñoz to fire past Stefan Ortega.
City’s Missed Chances Haunt Them
Manchester City, who have now lost back-to-back FA Cup finals, were left ruing missed opportunities. Erling Haaland saw an early chance saved, while Marmoush’s weak penalty was comfortably kept out by Henderson.
The Premier League champions piled on the pressure in the second half, but Palace’s defence stood strong, with Tyrick Mitchell and Joachim Andersen making crucial blocks. A late VAR check also denied Muñoz a second goal, but it didn’t matter as Palace held on for a famous win.
History for Glasner, Heartbreak for Guardiola
The victory marks a fairytale ending for Palace, who had lost their two previous FA Cup finals (1990 and 2016). For manager Oliver Glasner, it’s a first major trophy in England, making him the first Austrian coach to win the FA Cup.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s disappointing season ends without a domestic trophy for the first time since 2017, raising questions about their dominance in English football.
Celebrations in South London, Pride in Nigeria
As Palace fans sang “Glad All Over” in celebration, Nigerian supporters also took pride in Eze’s match-winning contribution, further cementing his status as one of the country’s most admired footballers abroad.
The underdogs’ triumph will go down as one of the greatest shocks in FA Cup history, proving once again why the competition is the most magical in football.
