Napoli striker Victor Osimhen will lead a clutch of top Nigeria stars like Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal), Leke James (Molde), Peter Olayinka (Slavia Prague) and Shehu Abdullahi (Omonia Nicosia) when the group stage of the UEFA Europa League begins tonight.
Other Nigeria stars likely to feature in the second-tier European club competition are Chidera Ejuke (CSKA Moscow), Junior Pius (Antwerp) and Tobi Lawal (LASK).
On the back of his first Serie A goal at the weekend, Osimhen will make his Europa League debut at home against Dutch side AZ Alkmaar, who have been badly hit by many Coronavirus positive cases.
It will be the first time both teams will do battle in this competition.
Both Chukwueze and Leke James have already featured in this competition.
It will also be the first time that Ejuke will play in this competition and he will return to Austria, where he made his Super Eagles debut last week, for the clash against Wolfsberger.
Chukwuze’s Villarreal will welcome Turkish club Sivasspor, while four-time Norwegian champions Molde parading James are away at Irish club Dundalk.
Shehu Abdullahi has returned to Cyprus after time in Turkey and he will hope his new club Omonia Nicosia get off to a good start at PAOK of Greece tonight.
Nigerian interest in the Europa League is further represented by Antwerp, who parade defender Junior Pius, as they tackle Ludogrets in Bulgaria and Eagles invitee Tobi Lawal, whose Austrian club LASK face a Herculean task at Tottenham Hotspur in London tonight.
