When the UEFA Europa League kicks off later tonight for its round of 32, there will be a number of Nigerian players on parade led by Super Eagles duo of Alex Iwobi and Henry Onyekuru.
Iwobi and his English side, Arsenal will be away at the Borisov Arena, home of Belarusian champions, Bate Borisov.
The playmaker would be hoping to play more minutes in the competition for the Gunners, having already played four games so far this season.
That game will see Iwobi and his Arsenal team mates come up against a former Gunner in Aleksandr Hleb, 37, who starred for the North London side from 2005 to 2008.
Another Nigerian who will be playing in the Europa League tonight for his team is versatile forward, Onyekuru, whose Galatasaray side host a Tyronne Ebuehi-less Benfica.
Onyekuru’s Galatasaray were of one the clubs that dropped from the Champions League and the Nigerian would hope for better outing in UEFA’s second tier club competition.
The 21-year-old failed to find the back of the net in the Champions League despite playing five of six matches for his Turkish outfit.
He faces another side that dropped from the UCL in Benfica, who will be without the services of their industrious Nigerian fullback, Ebuehi, who misses the game due to a long term injury.
At the Estadio José Alvalade in Portugal, youngster, Samuel Chukwueze, could get a chance to find favour in the eyes of his new manager, Javi Calleja, when Villarreal battle Sporting CP.
Since Calleja returned to the Yellow Submarines late last month, Chukwueze has had to make do with just cameo appearances especially in the La Liga.
Therefore, the Europa League could give him an opportunity to reclaim his place in the team.
Elsewhere, former Mountain of Fire and Miracles football club and Nigeria Professional Football League, NPFL, top shot, Stephen Odey, will be looking to add to his two goals when Swiss side, FC Zurich, host SSC Napoli.
Odey’s goals helped Zurich seal a place in the final 32, with the ex MFM striker playing in all their six matches in the group stages.
