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GODWIN AIKIGBE profiles 10 Nigerian stars who will be in action for their various clubs across Europe as the 2024/25 UEFA Europa League enters its league stage on Wednesday and Thursday
VICTOR OSIMHEN (Galatasaray vs. PAOK Thessaloniki)
Unarguably Nigeria’s biggest star in Europe club competitions, Osimhen will be expected to bring his A-game for Galatasaray against the Greeks tonight at RAMS Park in Istanbul.
Unfazed by the protracted summer transfer saga, the 25-year-old has hit the ground running at Galatasaray following his season-long loan arrival from Napoli earlier this month, providing two assists in as many Turkish Super Lig games that ended in victories, including the weekend’s Istanbul derby 3-1 defeat of Fenernabche, where he delivered a sumptuous chested assist for former Napoli teammate Diers Martens for their second goal.
The Nigeria striker boasts European football experience with Napoli and will, as usual, prove a handful for opposing defenders.
FISAYO DELE-BASHIRU (Dinamo Kiev vs. Lazio)
Dele-Bashiru has enjoyed some patronage from Coach Marco Baroni since joining Lazio on loan from Hatay of Turkey in July, having started in two of his three Serie A appearances across their five fixtures.
The 23-year-old midfielder, who is touted as a replacement for Austin Jay-Jay Okocha, will look to make his debut in the competition when Lazio face the Ukrainians tonight at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg for their first match of the European season.
His only European experience was featuring for Manchester City in the UEFA Youth League. He and his teammates will be inspired by their fine start to the season, scoring in 13 straight games in all competitions and hitting the back of the net in every match since a Serie A meeting with Roma in April.
IGOH OGBU (PFK Ludogorets vs. Slavia Prague)
Ogbu, a defender, is currently sidelined by injury and will play no part in tonight’s encounter between his club Slavia Prague and Ludogorets at Huvepharma Arena, Razgrad.
The 24-year-old unsung Nigerian will be a sore miss for the visitors, having been enjoying a rich vein of form this season, starting all eight games and providing one assist in the Czech topflight.
Ogbu, who is playing his third season with Slavia Prague following his transfer from Lillestrøm, was injured and replaced 24 minutes into their 3-0 win over Viktoria Plzen on Saturday.
He boasts an extensive European football experience with Slavia Prague, Lillestrøm, and Rosenborg and will be expected to bring his experience to bear at later stages of the competition, upon recovery.
UMAR SADIQ (Nice vs. Real Sociedad)
Like Ogbu, Sadiq is injured and will not be involved in Real Sociedad’s trip to Allianz Riviera for a date with Nice.
The 27-year-old came down with Hamstring on Sunday with a returned date yet unknown.
His run out with the rest of the team has been largely thwarted by injuries since his €20 transfer from Almeria in August 2022.
After being sidelined by an MCL knee injury for the entire 2022/23 season, he recently suffered a knee injury that kept him out for 12 days.
Sadiq has started two of three matches for the club this season.
BRIGHT OSAYI-SAMUEL (Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise)
The Nigeria defender will be in action for Fenerbahce when Jose Mourinho’s team host Union Saint-Gilloise at Ülker Stadium in Istanbul on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old has started two of his team’s fixtures in the new campaign and will be looking to stop their visitors’ bid to snap their run of poor form in the league phase of the series.
Osayi-Samuel was an integral part of Fenerbahce’s last UEFA Champions League campaign, an experience that should count this term.
CYRIEL DESSERS, LEON BALOGUN (Malmö FF vs Rangers)
Dessiers is expected to lead Rangers’ line against Malmo at Eleda Stadion on Thursday night.
The 26-year-old striker has been in ravenous form for the Glasgow giants in the last two seasons and has scored three goals in five games into the new Scottish Premiership season.
While he is a sure bet for action, his Nigeria teammate, Leon Balogun, continues to exit on the fringes and may not feature for Rangers against the in-form Malmö side.
However, both players boast vast European football experience and could make their involvement count when situations demand.
CHUBA AKPOM (Ajax vs. Beşiktaş)
The Nigerian prospect has proved indispensable for Ajax and is expected to spearhead their attack against Besiktas at Johan Cruijff ArenA, Amsterdam, on Thursday, with both sides out to extend unbeaten streaks.
Akpom, 28, starred as Ajax won their last qualifying tie, beating Jagiellonia Białystok 7-1 on aggregate in the play-offs. The Dutch Eredivisie club are undefeated in their last four games in all competitions, winning three and drawing one.
Akpom scored three goals and provided two assists.
Scoring two goals in as many games into the new Dutch Eredivisie campaign with one assist to his name, underscores his form heading into the encounter.
TEREM MOFFI (Nice vs. Real Sociedad)
Like Ogbu and Sadiq, Moffi is out injured and will play no part in his club’s clash with Real Sociedad at Allianz Riviera on Thursday night.
The 25-year-old is out with an MCL knee injury and hasn’t been involved in any of the five Ligue 1 games that his club have played so far in 2024/2025.
Moffi last made an appearance in a competition game on May 19, 2024, playing 26 minutes for Nice against Lille in a 2-2 draw.
He was part of Nice’s Champions League campaign in the 2022/23 season following his € 22.5m transfer from Lorient.
Moffi featured for Riteriai in the 2019/20 Europa League.
VICTOR ORAKPO (Nice vs. Real Sociedad)
Youngest and by far least experienced Orakpo, 18, a striker, has experienced a meteoric rise recently, breaking into the first team of Nice.
He has started all three Ligue One games for the club this season, his maiden European league campaign, but is still awaiting his dock breaker.
Orakpo made his league debut, aged 18 years and 216 days, against Auxerre on August 18 and will be looking to make his debut in a European club football competition against Real Sociedad.
He played for 13 minutes in his last time out with Nice, an 8-0 win over Saint-Étienne on September 20.
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