The Champions League, one of the most
prestigious tournaments in the world and the most prestigious club competition
in European football, returned on Tuesday night with a loud bang. Two
heavyweights of European football, PSG and Chelsea, faced off in Paris with
some of the world’s best players on parade.
Swedish legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Uruguayan star, Edison
Cavani both got the goals that edged the Parisians past their English guests.
But it was John Obi Mikel who had an unforgettable night scoring a vital away
goal for the impressive Blues.
That however was not the first time a Nigerian had played a
decisive part in the Champions League. SoccerNet Nigeria presents you the top 5
unforgettable nights for Nigerians in the Champions League.
#1.
Daniel Amokachi’s historic goal for Club Brugge
The Nigerian forward had made a name for himself at the 1990
African Nations Cup and it was no surprise when he made the switch to Club
Brugge in Belgium.
A new format had just been introduced in 1993 to the
European Cup with the name changed to the Champions League and the Belgian champions had made it to the group stages.
Club Brugge, also in the same Group A with eventual winners
Marseille and Scottish champions Rangers, were to face CSKA Moscow in the
group’s opening match.
The stage was set for Amokachi to write his name in the
history books and he seized the opportunity.
Smartly beating the offside trap, the Nigerian forward used
his pace to get past the goalkeeper and smash the ball into an empty net, securing
a 1–0 win over the Russians.
Amokachi thus became the first player
to score in the UEFA Champions League.
#2.
Kanu and Finidi lift the trophy with
Ajax
Before the 1995 UEFA Champions League
Final, no other Nigerian had ever appeared at the final stage of the competition.
The only time any Nigerian had come close to anything that compared to that
grand stage was when Stephen Keshi was on the losing end of the 1990 European Cup
Winners Cup.
But here were two Nigerians, Nwankwo
Kanu and George Finidi, helping the Dutch champions coached by a certain Louis
Van Gaal to only their fourth European triumph.
In the final against AC Milan, Finidi
played all 90 minutes while Kanu was introduced into the game for Clarence
Seedorf seven minutes into the second half.
But it was fellow substitute, Patrick
Kluivert who would break Italian hearts with an 85th minute goal.
The celebration scenes at the final
whistle were wild and magical and made even more beautiful by the fact that two
Nigerians made it possible.
3.
Finidi and Kanu again in the 1996 Final
Defending champions Ajax were once
again in the final having sent home the likes of Real Madrid, Borussia
Dortmund, and Panathinaikos. Kanu had established himself as a first team
starter ahead of Patrick Kluivert, and his partnership with top goalscorer
Jari Litmanen had grown to be one of the most feared in Europe.
However, another Italian side Juventus
was waiting in the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Scores stood at one-all after extra
time, Litmanen having cancelled out Ravanelli’s opener. But it was Juventus who
were more decisive at the penalties as first Edgar Davies, and then Silooy
missed their kicks for Ajax.
Nigerians were as sad as Ajax fans as
Kanu and Finidi suffered heartbreak at the last hurdle.
#4.
Obafemi Martins ran riot against Arsenal
Internazionale FC launched their
challenge for the 2003/04 UEFA Champions League with a stunning 3-0 victory at
Highbury against highly rated Arsenal FC with tremendous help from a certain Nigerian teenager.
Inter Milan made an imperious start,
with Obafemi Martins at the heart of everything good in the Italian’s attack.
First, Martins provided a headed assist
for strike-partner Julio Cruz to open the scoring with a nicely executed finish
before Van der Meyde struck a superb volley to make it 0-2.
The Nigerian striker would have the
final say, though. After collecting a disguised pass from Emre Belözoglu, the
teenager held off the challenge of Sol Campbell to fire the ball past Jens
Lehmann in Arsenal goal.
It would be one of Obafemi Martins
finest performances in Europe.
5.
Mikel Obi conquers Europe with Chelsea
Not since George Finidi in 1995 had a
Nigerian had such an impact on the final of the UEFA Champions League as John
Obi Mikel in Chelsea’s title winning 2011/12 campaign.
The odds were stacked steeply against
the English team who faced a Bayern Munich side that had knocked out favourites
Real Madrid in the semi-final. The Blues had achieved their own giant-killing
feat by upsetting Barcelona in the semi-finals but a poor league form and the
fact that the final was to be played at the Football Arena Munich, home ground
of their final foes, suggested that the momentum was with the German champions.
But Chelsea were not intimidated. They fought like lions and their defense stood firm like a concrete wall.
Didier Drogba was irrepressible upfront while Mikel Obi was a colossus in midfield
all game for Chelsea as they claimed the European title for the first time in
dramatic circumstances.
Thomas Müller headed the Germans into an 83rd-minute
lead and just as Munich was preparing to celebrate, Drogba brought
Chelsea level. The Londoners went on to prevail on penalties.
And another Nigerian name was written
among the winners of the UEFA Champions League.
