Super Eagles' duo of Samuel Chukwueze and Alex Iwobi delivered a dazzling attacking show, while compatriot Calvin Bassey stood tall in defence, as Fulham pushed Manchester City to the brink in a breathtaking 5-4 contest at Craven Cottage on Tuesday night.
Manchester City may have left with all three points, but the night belonged largely to Nigeria's attacking duo, who spearheaded Fulham's spirited fightback after the Premier League champions raced into a commanding lead.
City entered the game with Erling Haaland chasing history, and the Norwegian ended his goal drought in the 17 minute, converting Jeremy Doku's cross to reach his 100 Premier League goal faster than any player in history.
Before then, he had already rattled the post early in the game, signalling the danger to come.
Fulham, who started brightly in spells, were kept in the tie early on by excellent defending from Calvin Bassey. The Nigerian centre-back repeatedly snuffed out City attacks, made crucial interceptions, and provided leadership at the back even as pressure mounted.
City's quality, however, broke through again. Haaland turned provider for Tijjani Reijnders in the 37th minute, before Phil Foden unleashed a long-range screamer to put Pep Guardiola's side 3-0 up just before halftime.
Fulham refused to melt under pressure. Their best performer of the first half, Emile Smith Rowe, headed home a lifeline to make it 3-1 at the break.
Marco Silva made a bold statement at halftime by introducing Samuel Chukwueze, and the Super Eagles winger transformed Fulham's attack instantly.
But City restored their cushion almost immediately through another composed Foden finish, and an unfortunate Berge deflection made it 5-1.
Still, Fulham continued to fight -- and it was Alex Iwobi who sparked hopes of an improbable comeback. The Nigerian midfielder drilled a low long-range strike into the bottom corner in the 57th minute, cutting the deficit to 5-2 and injecting belief into the stadium.
The winger, initially quiet after his introduction, exploded to life in the 72nd minute, racing onto a loose ball to smash home Fulham's third goal. Craven Cottage erupted -- and Chukwueze wasn't done yet.
Eight minutes later, he struck again, finishing a flowing counterattack to make it 5-4 and send the home crowd into a frenzy. The brace capped his most electrifying performance since joining Fulham, showcasing the pace, directness, and clinical finishing the Super Eagles winger is renowned for.
Amid the chaos, Calvin Bassey delivered one of his most assured performances of the season. His recovery runs, well-timed blocks and composure under intense pressure kept Fulham competitive. Without him, the damage could have been far worse.
His late defensive interventions helped Fulham stay within touching distance as they threw bodies forward chasing an equaliser.
Fulham came inches away from a dramatic 90+ minute leveller when Josh King's effort was cleared off the line by Josko Gvardiol.
Despite the defeat, Fulham's Nigerian trio stole the spotlight -- Chukwueze with a brilliant brace, Iwobi with a superb goal and tireless creativity, and Bassey with a commanding defensive display.
Manchester City, meanwhile, leave Craven Cottage as only the second visiting team to win there this season, closing the gap at the top of the Premier League standings.
But on a night filled with elite football, it was the Super Eagles stars who provided the magic.