All six Nigerians in the 2025/26 Champions League advance to the knockout phase, with Osimhen, Lookman and Onyedika among key performers

All six Nigerians in contention in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League group phase successfully advanced to the knockout stage, concluding Europe’s premier club competition’s opening round on Wednesday night. OLAMIDE ABE reports.

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Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray led the line in a challenging campaign for the Turkish champions. Despite failing to win their final four matches, Galatasaray scraped into the knockout play-offs with 10 points.

Osimhen, returning from injury and Africa Cup of Nations duty, was Galatasaray’s most persistent attacking outlet against Manchester City, registering three shots on target and stretching the opposition defence.

Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman emerged as the highest-placed Nigerian player in the group standings, finishing 15th with 13 points.

Lookman featured for 51 minutes in a 1–0 defeat to Union Saint-Gilloise, completing 14 accurate passes and three dribbles while maintaining composure in a tightly contested fixture.

Raphael Onyedika played a commanding role for Club Brugge, anchoring midfield in a decisive win over Marseille that confirmed the Belgian side’s progression.

Onyedika completed 32 of 36 passes with 89 per cent accuracy, made seven defensive contributions and dominated 15 ground duels, exemplifying composure and work rate under pressure.

Nathan Tella’s involvement at Bayer Leverkusen was limited by injury, featuring in just two substitute appearances totalling 29 minutes. Leverkusen finished 16th on 12 points but still secured progression.

Bruno Onyemaechi contributed as a tactical substitute for Olympiacos in their narrow qualifying victory over Ajax.

Introduced in the 88th minute, he recorded a clearance, a recovery, an aerial duel win and completed all three of his passes, helping the Greek champions finish 18th with 11 points.

Teenage forward George Ilenikhena of Monaco became the youngest African player to reach 15 Champions League appearances.

Monaco finished 21st with 10 points, and although Ilenikhena was an unused substitute in the decisive fixture, he played three matches in the group stage, including a heavy defeat to Real Madrid that marked the record-breaking milestone.

Igoh Ogbu’s campaign with Slavia Prague ended at the group stage, but the defender featured prominently in the side’s final 4–1 defeat to Pafos, making 11 defensive contributions and completing 28 of 33 passes.

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While none of the Nigerians’ clubs secured automatic top-eight qualification, the collective progression to the knockout phase across Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Greece and France marks a significant achievement for the country’s players on Europe’s biggest club stage.