Super Eagles duo of Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface played key roles in Bayer Leverkusen's dramatic Europa League draw against West Ham at the London Stadium.
Tella, starting for the second consecutive game, saw his side concede early but came off in the second half. Boniface, who began the match on the bench, entered the fray after the break as Leverkusen chased an equalizer.
Super Eagles players in Europa League
Leverkusen through, still unbeaten
The German champions found themselves trailing after West Ham's early goal by Michail Antonio in the 13th minute.
However, a tactical switch by manager Xabi Alonso in the second half proved decisive. Tella was subbed off for Jeremie Frimpong, while Boniface replaced Patrik Schick.
This substitution paid off as Frimpong netted the equalizer in the 89th minute with a deflected shot. The 1-1 draw, combined with Leverkusen's 2-0 first-leg victory, secured their passage to the Europa League semi-finals.
Elsewhere, another Nigerian winger, Ademola Lookman, witnessed a different kind of drama unfold. Lookman started on the bench for Atalanta as they faced Liverpool in a tense encounter.
The Italian side, despite conceding an early penalty to Mohamed Salah, managed to hold on to their 3-0 advantage from the first leg for a 3-1 aggregate victory.
Lookman entered the fray in the 80th minute for Aleksey Miranchuk but couldn't make a significant impact on the game. Nevertheless, Atalanta emerged victorious with a 3-1 aggregate win, sending the former European champions packing.
Super Eagles players in Europa Conference League
Onyedika and Club Brugge progress
In the Europa Conference League, Raphael Onyedika helped Club Brugge eke out a 2-0 away win at Greek side PAOK Salonika.
In pole position after a 1-0 first leg win, the Belgian side went into the game looking to advance at the expense of their Greek opponents.
Rapahel Onyedika, who has been in brilliant form for Club Brugge of late started the game and was a power house in the midfield, as the First Division A outfit swept PAOK on the road to make it to the next stage.
Two goals by Spanish striker Ferran Jutglà in the 33rd and 45th minutes was all the Belgian side needed to advance on a 3-0 aggregate.
Sad night for Osayi-Samuel as Fenerbache lose on penalties
In the Fenerbache game, Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel was involved from the start for his Turkish side as they battled to overturn a 3-2 first leg deficit from their game with Greek giants Olympiacos
Turkish forward İrfan Kahveci put them ahead, with the game tied 3-3 on aggregate in the 11th minute.
However, Fenerbahce ultimately lost on penalties, as Dusan Tadic, Cengiz Under and Leonardo Bonucci were unable to convert from the spot.
This Europa League quarter-final stage proved to be a mixed bag for Nigerian players. While Tella and Boniface played instrumental roles in Leverkusen's comeback, Lookman's Atalanta relied more heavily on their first-leg heroics.
Regardless, both teams have progressed to the semi-finals, keeping the Nigerian connection alive in Europe's second-tier club competition.
Also, Raphael Onyedika will be proud of Club Brugge’s performance over the two legs and progression to the next stage of the Europa Conference League while Bright Osayi-Samuel will be left to ponder what could have been as Fenerbache were dumped out ot the Conference league by Greek side Olympiacos.
