Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen will lead Nigeria's frontline against Zimbabwe
The 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign kicked off on September 16, featuring a strong Nigerian presence, led by superstar strikers Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
All eyes will be on Osimhen following his blockbuster €75 million move to Turkish champions Galatasaray. After firing the club to the domestic title with a league-high 26 goals last season, the expectations are immense. The investment signals Galatasaray’s ambition to make a deep run into the knockout stages, with Osimhen as their talisman.
For Lookman, the season is about mending fences with Atalanta after a turbulent summer. The reigning African Footballer of the Year, who secured his legacy with a historic hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final, remains a decisive threat. His contributions will be vital in a tough group featuring clashes against Chelsea, Olympique Marseille, and Athletic Bilbao.
Raphael Onyedika, Bruno Onyemaechi, and Nathan Tella are Super Eagles players also expected to feature for Club Brugge, Olympiakos, and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively.
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Onyedika has been integral to Club Brugge’s European progression and was part of the side that reached the round of 16 last season. He has featured in all UCL qualifying matches this season.
Tella is also a key player at Leverkusen, and the versatile winger will feature heavily for the former Bundesliga champions as they face current UCL champions PSG and Manchester City.
He will also square off with Bruno Onyemaechi and Olympiakos on matchday 7 in Greece. Onyemaechi joined the Greek champions in the summer and is working his way into the team.
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The tournament also serves as a platform for Nigeria’s emerging talents.
George Ilenikhena (Monaco), a UCL super-sub that scored the winner against Barcelona last season, Vince Osuji (Club Brugge), and the Slavia Prague duo of David Moses and Igoh Ogbu are other upcoming Nigerian players looking to grab headlines this season.
LIST OF NIGERIAN PLAYERS IN THE UCL 2025/26 SEASON
- Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)
- Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
- Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
- Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen)
- Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos)
- George Ilenikhena (AS Monaco)
- Vince Osuji (Club Brugge)
- David Moses (Slavia Prague)
- Igoh Ogbu (Slavia Prague)
Additionally, Nigeria ranks second in Africa with nine players in the UCL, second only to Morocco (14), with Senegal (8), Ghana (7), Ivory Coast (6), and Algeria (6) completing the top six.
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