Related Post
The Round of 16 fixtures in the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, and Europa Conference League have concluded, leaving only a handful of Nigerian players still in contention for European glory, Footynaija.com reports.
UEFA Champions League
Only eight teams remain in the UEFA Champions League, but no Super Eagles star features in any of them.
Nigeria international Raphael Onyedika and his Belgian club Club Brugge bowed out after a heavy 6-1 aggregate defeat to Aston Villa. Brugge had made headlines in the previous round by eliminating Atalanta, who boast African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman.
UCL Night!
— Sports Radio Brila FM (@Brilafm889) March 4, 2025
Raphael Onyedika against Aston Villa
89’ minutes played
1 shot on target
61 touches
94% accurate passes
1 key pass
9 ground duels won
1 clearance
1 interception
Ft Club Brugge 1-3 Aston Villa pic.twitter.com/soegk5hxkY
Super Eagles hopeful Chuba Akpom also exited the competition as his Lille lost 3-2 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund, with a damaging 2-1 home defeat proving decisive.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface also bid farewell after a 5-0 aggregate thrashing by Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
However, Nigerian fans can still keep an eye on Ethan Nwaneri, who is eligible for both Nigeria and England, when Arsenal face Real Madrid in the quarterfinals.
UEFA Europa League
Three Super Eagles stars remain in the continent’s second-tier competition, with Rangers’ Leon Balogun and Cyriel Dessers, as well as Lazio’s Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, still in the hunt.
Leon Balogun, 36 years old and still going strong
— Soar Super Eagles (@SSE_NGA) March 13, 2025
He battled through 120 minutes as Rangers edged Fenerbahçe on penalties to reach the #UEL quarterfinals. pic.twitter.com/bjAZQnlsOP
Dessers played a key role in Rangers’ progression, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a dramatic 3-3 aggregate draw with Fenerbahce, which the Scottish side won on penalties. Bright Osayi-Samuel and his Fenerbahce teammates crashed out as a result.
At Lazio, Dele-Bashiru returned from injury to help his side secure a 3-2 aggregate victory over Rafiu Durosinmi’s Viktoria Plzen.
Meanwhile, it was the end of the road for Super Eagles left-back Bruno Onyemaechi and Olympiacos, who fell 4-2 on aggregate to Bodø/Glimt.
In the quarterfinals, Rangers face Athletic Bilbao, while Lazio take on Bodø/Glimt.
UEFA Europa Conference League
The Conference League no longer has any Super Eagles stars following the exits of Molde and Lugano.
Super Eagles invitee Sebastian Osigwe, 30, and his Lugano side crashed out on penalties to Celje after a 5-5 aggregate draw.
Meanwhile, Flying Eagles midfielder Daniel Daga and Molde suffered a 4-3 aggregate loss to Legia Warsaw.
However, Nigerian fans still have a link to the tournament through Tosin Adarabioyo, whose Chelsea progressed with a 3-1 aggregate win over FC Copenhagen.
The England-born defender has yet to commit his international future to Nigeria but remains on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Chelsea will battle Legia Warsaw in the quarterfinals of the Conference League.
