Nigerian Football
Nigerians Take to the Field as UEFA Leagues Enter Group Stage
As the 2017/2018 UEFA Champions League and Europa League gather momentum across Europe from this Tuesday, Sports Village Square presents the Nigerians who will be showcasing their skills across the various fields in Europe.
Victor Moses, Chelsea
Leading the pack of Nigeria’s ambassadors to the most followed continental league in the world is the mercurial Victor Moses. He is expected to take the splendid form he exhibited at the back-to-back World Cup encounters with Cameroon to the Group C UEFA Champions League home tie with Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
It is the first ever encounter that Chelsea will be having with the Azerbaijan opponents. It is also Qarabag’s debut in the UEFA Champions’ League Group stage while Chelsea is having its 15th entry.
Aaron Samuel Olanere, CSKA Moscow
Aaron Samuel Olanere, the 23 year old Super Eagles player may not have had ample playing time with Nigeria recently since his scoring debut against Sudan on October 15, 2014, this Tuesday will enable him display his talents when his CSKA Moscow side take on Portugal’s Benfica in Lisbon.
He was called up as an unused last minute replacement for injured Alex Iwobi of Arsenal for the recent Nigerian World Cup qualifying matches with Cameroon.
Sports Village Square gathered from UEFA that Olanere took full part in the training by the Russian side and therefore in contention to start the league duel with Benfica.
If featured, he will be wearing the unfamiliar shirt number 99. He will not be the first Nigerian in the CSKA UEFA Champions League side as Olanere will be treading the path earlier taken by Ahmed Musa.
Henry Onyekuru, Anderlecht
Sports Village Square recalls that Henry Onyekuru will be walking the path previously taken by the late Nigerian former captain and coach, Stephen Keshi as he laces his boots for Belgium’s Anderlecht in UEFA Champions’ League Group B away clash with Germany’s Bayern Munich.
Onyekuru took full part in the training by the Belgian side and therefore in contention to start the match at Fußball Arena München.
It is the first time that Onyekuru’s club will be in the group stage since the 2014/15 Season.
Nura Abdullahi, AS Roma
Unlike Victor Moses and Onyekuru who will likely play key roles for their clubs in the Champions’ League opening games, Abdullahi is almost a confirmed absentee. The Rio 2016 Nigerian footballer did not take part in the most recent training sessions for his Italian club, AS Roma which will be hosts to Atletico Madrid in Group C.
In fact, he is yet to feature in the two-week old Serie A matches.
Sunny Omoregie, N.K Maribor, Slovenia
In the same situation with Abdullahi is Sunny Omoregie of Maribor which faces Spartak in Group E on Wednesday. The Nigerian is not listed in the club’s squad for this season’s Champions League.
Theophilus Solomon, FK Partizan
Partizan Belgrade forward, Theophilus Solomon who joined the Serbian giant on August 12 2017 on a long season loan deal with the option of permanent transfer at the end of the season.
May likely feature when the club takes on Young Boys of Switzerland on Thursday. Sports Village Square gathered that the Nigerian who will be putting on jersey number 77 took part in all training session ahead of the game and is in contention to start the game.
Alex Iwobi, Arsenal
Arsenal has found a new domain in the less European league, the Europa Cup. But it will be without Alex Iwobi who appears not registered for the competition. In a similar situation is another player of Nigerian origin, Tolaji Bola whose name, like that of Iwobi is asterisked as belonging to the Arsenal FC Academy.
Imoh Ezekiel, Konyaspor, Turkey
But when Turkey’s Konyaspor take on Marseille on Thursday, Nigeria’s Imoh Ezekiel will likely be listed. Sports Village Square gathered from UEFA that Ezekiel participated in all training sessions ahead of the Europa Cup encounter.
His club however has a huge mountain to climb in Marseille as Konyaspor is yet to win a match in six outings in the continent. In previous outings, the Turkish side lost five and drew one.
Segun James Adeniyi, KF Skënderbeu
Segun Adeniyi is another Nigerian to watch out for when Albanian club, KF Skënderbeu take on Dynamos Kiev on Thursday in the Europa Cup Group B tie. If featured, he will wear shirt number 78. Sports Village Square can confirm that the Nigerian who scored 23 goals last season took paprt in all training session leading to the match.
Adeniyi will lock horns with fellow Nigeria, Theophilus Solomon when the Ueropa league Group B battle begins.
Samuel Adeniyi Adegbenro, Rosenborg F.C
Samuel Adegbenro is expected to feature for Rosenborg BK of Norway when the club face Real Sociedad in a Group L Europa Cup duel on Thursday. The native of Osogbo plays as centre forwaed and had score three goals in two outings or the club
Rivers United head coach and technical manager, Finidi George, has praised young defender Ochiobi Elias following his outstanding performance in the club’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixture on Wednesday at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.
The left-back, who played the full 90 minutes, was instrumental in helping Rivers United maintain a clean sheet, marking one of his most confident outings since his promotion to the senior squad.
Finidi, visibly impressed after the match, revealed that his decision to give Elias a full game was driven by trust in the player’s potential, despite his limited minutes earlier in the season.
“I think he did well. Normally, we should have been bringing him in gradually — maybe 15 minutes before giving him a 90-minute match,” Finidi said. “But I trust him, and I’ve spoken to him. He should be relaxed, calm down, and play his football.”
The coach also highlighted a near-miss moment when Elias came close to scoring late in the game, a chance Finidi felt could have crowned his stellar performance.
“I think today he would have scored a goal at the last moment, but he still wanted to square the ball, look for somebody,” Finidi added. “I’m quite happy with his performance, and we will keep encouraging him to do better. I am very, very pleased.”
Elias, a product of the Rivers United youth team that won the NPFL Youth League in 2024, has been gradually integrated into the first team under Finidi’s guidance. His performance on Wednesday is seen as a major step forward in his development and a sign of his growing confidence.
The youngster is now expected to retain his place in the squad as Rivers United travel to Aba this Sunday for a crucial NPFL clash against Enyimba.
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Strategic partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the President Federation Cup, GTI Group, have congratulated the football governing body on the successful hosting of its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held last weekend in Ibadan, Oyo State.
In a press statement issued on Friday in Lagos, GTI’s Head of Media and Publicity, Andrew Ekejiuba, lauded the NFF Board under the leadership of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for the smooth conduct of the AGM and the significant progress made in Nigerian football development.
According to Ekejiuba, the Ibadan meeting reflected Gusau’s commitment to engaging stakeholders and strengthening unity across the football ecosystem.
“GTI Group congratulates the Nigeria Football Federation on the successful outcome of its Annual General Meeting held in Ibadan, which the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, used the occasion to demonstrate his commitment to engaging positively with football stakeholders, including state football associations, clubs and fans,” he said.
“His interactions with the various groups at the AGM showcased his impactful leadership and dedication to promoting Nigerian football and fostering a collaborative environment.”
Ekejiuba also highlighted the Super Falcons’ recent achievements and the growth of domestic competitions, particularly the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), as key milestones recorded under Gusau’s leadership. GTI serves as a strategic partner of the NPFL, supporting its structural and commercial transformation.
The statement further expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde and the people of Oyo State for their hospitality and support during the AGM. Ekejiuba noted the governor’s commendation of the improved standard of refereeing in the NPFL under the administration of Otunba Gbenga Elegbeleye.
However, GTI also used the opportunity to express disappointment over the early exit of Kwara United and Abia Warriors from the CAF Confederation Cup, urging Nigerian clubs to raise their competitive standards on the continental stage.
“It is unfortunate that both Kwara United and Abia Warriors crashed out at the preliminary phase of the CAF Confederation Cup last weekend. This clearly shows that Nigerian clubs must raise their game in order to compete favourably,” the statement read.
“The future remains bright, but that is why GTI has been calling on Corporate Nigeria to invest more in our football, just as is done in thriving leagues across the world.”
Ekejiuba also extended words of encouragement to Remo Stars and Rivers United, who are still flying Nigeria’s flag in the CAF Champions League.
“We encourage them to dig deep and remain focused to ensure successful campaigns. They should give Nigerian football fans something to cheer this season because we understand how demanding continental competitions can be,” he concluded.
GTI Group reaffirmed its continued commitment to working closely with the NFF to advance football development, promote professionalism, and attract sustainable investment into the Nigerian game.
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The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has queried Warri Wolves following reports of the suspension of their head coach, Aluma Napoleon, faulting the club’s failure to comply with established procedures for contracting and registering technical officials.
In a letter titled “Notarization and Registration of Contracts” and signed by the NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, the league body directed the Delta-based club to regularize all contractual documentation with its technical and management staff in line with NPFL regulations.
The NPFL’s letter stated:
“Information reaching us from the media space suggests that the Delta State Sports Commission has suspended your head coach, Mr. Aluma Napoleon, with immediate effect.”
Citing Sections B, Articles 6 and 11 of the NPFL 2025/26 Framework and Rules, the league reminded Warri Wolves that all clubs are required to submit notarized contracts of their officials for registration and record purposes.
“You are, however, in breach of these sections as Warri Wolves FC have not submitted the contracts of its officials to the League Board. You are hereby requested, within twenty-four hours of receiving this letter, to submit all relevant contracts of your technical team, including that of the assumed suspended head coach, Mr. Napoleon Aluma, to the NPFL Secretariat,” the letter warned.
The NPFL further cautioned that failure to comply could lead to sanctions, including restricting Warri Wolves’ technical crew from accessing the bench in subsequent league matches.
“Note that failure to comply with this instruction will lead to the restriction of your technical team from accessing the technical area in future NPFL matches,” the league stated.
In a related statement to NPFL Media, COO Davidson Owumi stressed that the Warri Wolves case was not isolated, adding that all clubs yet to register the contracts of their technical officials must do so without delay.
“I must admonish all coaches to get hold of their contracts and lodge a report with the NPFL when there is a violation of the terms. It is the responsibility of the aggrieved to petition the league at all times,” Owumi emphasized.
The NPFL has been tightening administrative controls in recent seasons to ensure transparency, professionalism, and adherence to contractual obligations across all participating clubs.
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