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Nigerian forward Philip Otele delivered a standout performance on Saturday as FC Basel stormed to a dominant 4-0 away win over FC Zürich in the Swiss Super League, Footynaija.com reports.
Former Liverpool and Inter Milan man Xherdan Shaqiri netted twice in the encounter but Otele went one better registering two goals and an assist as Basel remain on course for the league title.
Otele, who joined Basel on loan from Al-Wahda in January, has quickly established himself as a key figure in Fabio Celestini’s side.
Phillip Otele (25) since joining FC Basel on loan in January 2025
— All Things Super Eagles (@AllThingsSuper_) April 12, 2025
14 appearances
775 mins
⚽️ 6 goals
️ 2 assists
✅ goal involvement every 97 mins
If he continues with this form, he should be brought in for the Unity Cup games! pic.twitter.com/wlR57oRaed
The 25-year-old opened the scoring inside 10 minutes, finishing confidently to reward his manager’s decision to hand him another start.
Just before the break, Otele turned provider, laying off the assist for Xherdan Shaqiri to double Basel’s lead with a well-placed strike via the crossbar and post. The hosts had no answer to Basel’s fluid attacking play and found themselves further behind early in the second half.
Shaqiri, brimming with confidence, curled in a sublime free-kick from the edge of the area to make it 3-0 and take his season tally to 13 goals — joint top in the league alongside Dereck Kutesa. With 14 assists to his name as well, Shaqiri remains irreplaceable in Basel’s title charge.
Otele rounded off the scoring with his second goal of the night and sixth in 13 league appearances, capping Basel’s biggest away win over Zürich since February 2020.
The result keeps Basel top of the table with 58 points from 32 matches, seven ahead of Servette and eight clear of Young Boys — both of whom play on Sunday. For Zürich, now sixth, the defeat puts their championship-round hopes at risk.
Basel will look to extend their winning run to five games when they host Yverdon on April 21, while FC Zürich travel to Bern to face Young Boys on Easter Monday in a must-win fixture.
