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  • Sports - Football - All Teams
  • Updated: September 06, 2022

Five Nigerian Players To Watch In 2022-23 Champions League Season

Five Nigerian Players To Watch In 2022-23 Champions League S

Victor-Osimhen

The 2022/23 UEFA Champions League campaign begins on Tuesday where the elites of European football clubs battle it out for the prestigious trophy.

Real Madrid are the defending champions after they defeated Liverpool 1-0 in the final last season.

We take a look at five Nigerian players who will be playing in the Uefa Champions League this season.

Only three Nigerian players have won the European accolade, the duo of Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George won it with Ajax in 1995, while John Obi Mikel was part of the Chelsea team that stunned the world in 2012 who happened to the be last Nigerian player to win it.

Let's take a look at the players who have the opportunity to likely end the 10-year drought for Nigeria.

1. Victor Osimhen (Napoli)

Victor Osimhen leads the charge of Nigerian players vying for the honour, understandably so due to his meteoric rise in recent years, which has made him one of the most sought-after strikers by top European clubs.

Osimhen will be in action for Napoli in Group A, where they have been paired alongside Ajax, Liverpool and Glasgow Rangers.

Victor Osimhen

Osimhen scored two goals in the Champions League for Lille OSC in 2019 before joining Napoli, he will be playing in the competition for the first time in Naples.

He will be hoping to better his last goal-scoring return in the competition as he fancies his chances against Liverpool, Ajax and Rangers.

While Napoli can not be regarded as a favourite, it will be a good opportunity for Osimhen and his teammates to play in the biggest club football competition.

The Super Eagles striker scored 14 goals in the Serie A last season to help Napoli finish third, giving them the opportunity to play.

Last season Napoli were dumped out of the Europa League by Barcelona.

2. Calvin Bassey (Ajax)

Calvin Bassey has been one of the most consistent Nigerian players in the last two years.

He joined Ajax from Glasgow Rangers in the summer to continue his development, and he has been turning heads in Holland, drawing praises from Ajax legend Ronald De Boer.

Bassey will be playing in the Champions League for the first time in his career, he and his Ajax teammates will battle it out with Liverpool, Rangers and Napoli in Group A of the competition.

Calvin Bassey

He will certainly be excited to prove his mettle against the likes of Mohammed Salah and his international teammate Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen and Bassey will face each other on match day 3 in October.

Ajax crashed out in the Champions League round of 16 stages last season at the hands of Benfica.

3. Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto)

Super Eagles left-back Zaidu Sanusi will be in action for Porto.

The Portuguese club have been paired in Group B alongside Atletico Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen and Club Brugge.

Zaidu Sanusi

He made six appearances for Porto in the competition last season.

Last season, Porto crashed out in the group stage after finishing behind Liverpool and Atletico Madrid.

They will be hoping to do better this season in a relatively easy Group.

No Nigerian defender has ever won the UEFA Champions League trophy, Sanusi and his teammates have their work cut out to make his history or at least get further deep into the competition.

4. Akinkunmi Amoo (Copenhagen)

Former Golden Eaglets star Akinkunmi Amoo will have the opportunity to fulfil his childhood dream of playing in the Champions League with his Danish side Copenhagen.

Copenhagen have been handed a difficult draw in Group G, where they have been paired with Manchester City, Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund.

The 20-year-old Amoo joined Copenhagen from Hammarby IF in January 2022.

Akinkunmi Amoo

He has been described as the next midfield genius from Nigeria, known for his pace, close control and technical ability, he will get the opportunity to showcase his skills on a grander stage.

5. Samson Tijani (Red Bull Salzburg)

Samson Tijani plays as a midfielder for Red Bull Salzburg in the Austrian league, he will also be granted the opportunity to play in the Champions League this season.

Red Bull Salzburg will slug it out with AC Milan, Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb in Group E.

Samson Tijani joined Red Bull Salzburg from the NLO side, Collins Edwin Sports Club, in July 2020.

Samson Tijani

He will be hoping to get an opportunity to show his talent against the likes of AC Milan, Chelsea and Dinamo Zagreb.

The 2022-2023 Champions League final will hold at the Atatürk Olympic Stadium in Turkey.

This is the second time the stadium will be hosting the showpiece after the 2005 epic final between Liverpool and AC Milan.

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