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Victor Wanyama’s bold EPL promotion prediction nears reality for Southampton
29th April, 2026 11:01 AM
Former Southampton and Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is on the verge of seeing his ‘bold prediction’ come true as the Saints gear up for a final push toward Premier League promotion.
Earlier this season, when Southampton sat near the top half of the Championship table, the Kenyan midfield remained confident of the club’s turnaround.
Wanyama, who remains a fan favourite at St. Mary’s after his illustrious career at the club during his heydays, insisted that the club possessed the pedigree to bounce back immediately despite a rocky start.
“I was watching it, and I was rooting for Southampton to get into the semis to go back to Wembley. They have found their way; they are consistent now. I think they will be back. If they get to that playoff spot, they will be back in the Premier League,” Wanyama said after Saints knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage on April 19, 2026.
The proclamation is now close to a reality, with Wanyama being vindicated.
Following a remarkable 18-match unbeaten run under manager Tonda Eckert, the former EPL outfit could be among the three teams regaining top-flight status at the end of the championship campaign.
Saw it coming?
While the dramatic 2-2 draw against Ipswich Town on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, ended hopes for an automatic top-two finish, the Saints have secured their playoff berth with momentum that few other sides can match.
The South Coast club shrugged off a malaise of inconsistent streaks and is now ranked fifth with 77 points.
With a comfortable seven-point cushion between them and sixth-placed Wrexham, who occupy the final playoff spot, Saints have their top-six spot finish guaranteed and a run in the postseason playoff for the one team to join the two automatically promoted teams.
Still, they could finish as high as 3rd if Millwall and Middlesbrough drop points, which would grant them a theoretically “easier” semifinal matchup and the advantage of playing the second leg at home
Already, Frank Lampard’s Coventry City has been promoted to the EPL after finishing top of the pile, while the other spot for the direct candidate awaits the final day of the campaign.
Wanyama had also accurately predicted that Morocco would be crowned the 2024 African Nations Championship winners back in 2025, when the competition was hosted in Kenya.
