The UEFA Super Cup, a clash between the Champions League and Europa League winners, has been a stage for some of Europe's finest. For Nigerian players, it represents a pinnacle of achievement.
Let’s take a closer look at the Nigerian players who have featured in the European Super Cup, whether they've lifted the trophy or ended up on the losing side.
UEFA Super Cup: The winners
Nwankwo Kanu & Finidi George
The story of Nigerians in the UEFA Super Cup begins with two iconic figures; Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George. The dynamic duo were integral to the Ajax side that conquered Europe in the mid-90s.
Their crowning moment came in 1995 when Ajax faced Real Zaragoza over two legs. Finidi was an ever-present figure in the first leg, while Kanu played a pivotal role in the second as the Dutch giants secured a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate victory.
Celestine Babayaro
Celestine Babayaro added his name to the list of Nigerian UEFA Super Cup winners when Chelsea defeated Real Madrid 1-0 in the 1998 final. The Blues secured victory thanks to a late Gus Poyet strike, with Babayaro playing a crucial role in the defensive solidity that underpinned the win.
UEFA Super Cup: The losers
Chidi Odiah
Chidi Odiah's UEFA Super Cup experience was less fortunate. The defender featured for CSKA Moscow in the 2005 final against Liverpool, but the Russian side suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Odiah played the full 90 minutes before being substituted at the start of extra time, where Liverpool extended their lead.
Julius Aghahowa
Julius Aghahowa was part of the Shakhtar Donetsk squad that faced Barcelona in the 2009 UEFA Super Cup.
The Nigerian forward was introduced as a substitute in extra time but couldn't prevent his side from suffering a 1-0 defeat. Pedro Rodriguez's late goal secured victory for Barcelona, denying Shakhtar a historic triumph.
John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses
John Mikel Obi endured a tough couple of years in the UEFA Super Cup. The Nigerian midfielder represented Chelsea in back-to-back defeats in 2012 and 2013. In 2012, Mikel played the full game as Chelsea were hammered 4-1 by Atletico Madrid.
The following year, he was part of the side that lost to Bayern Munich on penalties after a 2-2 draw. Team-mate Victor Moses was an unused substitute in the 2012 final.
Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman was unable to conjure up a repeat of his UEFA Europa League final heroics as Atalanta suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of reigning UEFA Champions League holders Real Madrid in the UEFA Super Cup. The match, staged at the National Stadium in Warsaw, saw goals from Fede Valverde and Kylian Mbappé secure the first trophy of the season for Los Blancos.
Lookman, who played the entire match, couldn't replicate the exceptional form that saw him net a hat-trick in Atalanta's emphatic victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final last May.
To date, only three Nigerians—Finidi George, Nwankwo Kanu, and Celestine Babayaro—have ever won the UEFA Super Cup, with Finidi being the only one to score in the competition.
