Want to know about all the Nigerians in the UEFA Champions League in 2024/25? We have got all the information you need.
The draw for this season was conducted on Thursday, August 29, introducing a new format for the competition this season.
This year, the Champions League will feature a single league table comprising 36 teams, instead of the traditional group stage format where 32 teams were divided into 8 groups of 4.
New format explained
The new Champions League format includes four pots of nine teams each. Each team will play eight matches against eight different opponents. These opponents are determined based on seeding and UEFA rankings to ensure a balanced schedule.
At the end of the league phase, the top eight teams from the league table will automatically qualify for the Round of 16. Teams that finish between 9th and 24th will enter a two-legged playoff round to determine the remaining eight spots in the Round of 16.
The winners of these playoff matches will join the top eight teams in a seeded knockout stage, while the losers will be eliminated from the competition.
With that said, let us take a look at all the Nigerians in the UEFA Champions League, along with their fixtures split along home and away lines. Note that all kick-off times are WAT (GMT +1)
Nigerians in the UEFA Champions League
Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)
Italian side, Atalanta will face a challenging league phase, with superstar forward and 2024 CAF Player of the Year favourite Ademola Lookman at the forefront.
Home
- Arsenal (19 September, 2024; 20:00)
- Celtic (23 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Real Madrid (10 December, 2024; 20:00)
- Sturm Graz (21 January, 2025; 17:45)
Away
- Shakhtar Donetsk (2 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Stuttgart (6 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Young Boys (26 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Barcelona (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge)
The Belgian side Club Brugge will be relying on their unsettled midfielder Raphael Onyedika to help them navigate the league phase.
Home
- Borussia Dortmund (18 September, 2024; 20:00)
- Aston Villa (6 November, 2024; 17:45)
- Sporting Lisbon (10 December, 2024; 20:00)
- Juventus (21 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Sturm Graz (2 October, 2024; 20:00)
- AC Milan (22 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Celtic (27 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Manchester City (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella (Bayer Leverkusen)
Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen have a daunting schedule in this year’s Champions League, and will require the Nigerian duo of Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella to step up significantly if they are to build on last season's success.
Home
- AC Milan (1 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Salzburg (26 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Inter Milan (10 December, 2024; 20:00)
- Sparta Prague (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Feyenoord (19 September, 2024; 17:45)
- Brest (23 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Liverpool (5 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Atletico Madrid (21 January, 2025; 20:00)
Peter Olayinka (Red Star Belgrade)
Peter Olayinka, who boasts previous Champions League experience with Red Star Belgrade, will be looking to make an impact again this season.
Home
- Benfica (19 September, 2024; 17:45)
- Barcelona (6 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Stuttgart (27 November, 2024; 17:45)
- PSV Eindhoven (21 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Inter Milan (1 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Monaco (22 October, 2024: 17:45)
- AC Milan (11 December, 2024; 20:00)
- Young Boys (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Samson Tijani (RB Salzburg)
Samson Tijani, the former U-17 captain, is back with Austrian side RB Salzburg after spending last season on loan at Wolfsberger AC.
Home
- Brest (1 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Dinamo Zagreb (23 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Paris Saint-Germain (10 December, 2024; 20:00)
- Atletico Madrid (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Sparta Prague (18 September, 2024; 17:45)
- Feyenoord (6 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Bayer Leverkusen (26 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Real Madrid (22 January, 2025; 20:00)
Victor Olatunji (Sparta Prague)
24-year-old Nigerian forward Victor Olatunji has already scored in the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League this season. He will look to continue in that vein when the league phase starts.
Home
- RB Salzburg (18 September, 2024; 17:45)
- Brest (6 November, 2024; 20:00)
- Atletico Madrid (26 November, 2024; 17:45)
- Inter Milan (22 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Stuttgart (1 October, 2024; 17:45)
- Manchester City (23 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Feyenoord (11 December, 2024; 21:00)
- Bayer Leverkusen (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
Elvis Isaac (Slovan Bratislava)
Elvis Isaac, 22, joined Slovan Bratislava this season and will hope to make an impact with the team in the Champions League.
Home
- Manchester City (1 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Dinamo Zagreb (5 November, 2024; 17:45)
- AC Milan (26 November, 2024; 17:45)
- Stuttgart (21 January, 2025; 20:00)
Away
- Celtic (18 September, 2024; 20:00)
- Girona (22 October, 2024; 20:00)
- Atletico Madrid (11 December, 2024; 17:45)
- Bayern Munich (29 January, 2025; 20:00)
