UEFA Champions League: Six Nigerians to feature in qualifiers

No fewer than six Nigerian players will feature for their respective teams in Tuesday night’s UEFA Champions League second qualifying round first legs across Europe.

Nosa Igiebor was part of Maccabi Tel Aviv’s 23-man squad that travelled for their away fixture against Maltese side Hibernians and he is expected to play a part in the encounter.
In Denmark, Rilwan Hassan and Babajide Akintola are both in line for action for their Danish side, Midtjylland, who will make their UEFA Champions League debut against Lincoln Red Imps FC from Gibraltar.
Hassan was instrumental in Midtjylland’s title triumph last season, making 24 appearances and scoring three goals while Akintola was recently promoted to the first team.
In Bulgaria, Nigerian defender Ovye Monday and his Milsami teammates will battle Bulgarian champions Ludogorets for a place in the next round.
Milsami qualified for the second round of the UEFA qualifiers following a successful 2014/15 season that saw them beat Sheriff and Dacia to the League title with a superior goals difference. Monday scored twice in 22 games for the champions.
Super Eagles duo of Rabiu Ibrahim and Kinglsy Madu are both expected to feature for FK AS Trenčín who host Romanian side Steaua Bucureşti.
Rabiu scored four goals in 17 league games last season while Madu was on target twice in 15 games for the Slovakian champions.
Meanwhile, FK Sarajevo new acquisition Harmony Ikande will play no part in his side’s clash against Lech Poznan.
The 24-year-old midfielder who penned a two-year deal with the Bosnian outfit is still awaiting his clearance papers.

“My papers are not completed yet so I won’t feature,” he told Complete Sports.