The UEFA Champions League draw was held yesterday in Monaco, France, at exactly 4 pm Nigerian time. Eight Nigerian players will be representing their European clubs in this season’s Champions League tournament following the conclusion of the draw last night.
Victor Osimhen – Napoli.
The Super Eagles forward no doubt, will be one of the best strikers to watch out for as he prepares to help the Azzurri to their first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph. Osimhen missed Napoli’s first leg quarter-final game against AC Milan last season when they were knocked out by Milan. He piloted Napoli to their first title after 33 years and has been tipped by many to replicate the same on this big stage.
Samuel Chukwueze – AC Milan
Chukwueze, who made a move to AC Milan this summer from the Yellow Submarines, is expected to feature for the Italian giant in the Champions League this season. He made his debut for Milan during Milan’s 0-2 away win at Bologna, playing 16 minutes. Before departing Villarreal, the Nigerian forward was capped 207 times, scored 37 goals and assisted 31 times.
Saidu Zanusi—FC Porto
Saidu Zanusi will be representing Portuguese giant, FC Porto this season in the European top flight league. Since joining Porto in 2020, Sanusi has been playing actively in the Champions League with the club. The Nigerian left back didn’t feature in Porto’s first game this season, but he came off the bench in their last two games.
Others are:
Sadiq Umar—Real Sociedad
Peter Olayinka – Red Star Belgrade
Akinkunmi Amoo – FC Copenhagen
Chidera Ejuke & Alhassan Yusuf—RC Antwerp.
The 32 participating teams were drawn into 8 groups, with each having 4 teams.
Group A: Bayern (GER), Man United (ENG), Copenhagen (DEN), Galatasaray (TUR).
Group B: Sevilla (ESP), Arsenal (ENG), PSV Eindhoven (NED), Lens (FRA).
Group C: Napoli (ITA), Real Madrid (ESP), Braga (POR), Union Berlin (GER).
Group D: Benfica (POR), Inter (ITA), Salzburg (AUT), Real Sociedad (ESP).
Group E: Feyenoord (NED), Atlético de Madrid (ESP), Lazio (ITA), Celtic (SCO).
Group F: Paris (FRA), Dortmund (GER), Milan (ITA), Newcastle (ENG).
Group G: Man City (ENG), Leipzig (GER), Crvena zvezda (SRB), Young Boys (SUI).
Group H: Barcelona (ESP), Porto (POR), Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR), Antwerp (BEL)
The group stage games will begin on 19th September 2023 and will conclude on December 13, 2023. The final will be played in Wembley Stadium on June 1, 2024.
