Super Eagles AFCONQ squad: 7 Nigeria stars with Champions League experience

Eric Chelle’s 24-man Super Eagles squad for the opening 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers contains a strong UEFA Champions League connection, Afrik-Foot reports.

Seven of the selected players have appeared in the competition’s main stage, giving Nigeria a group with experience against some of Europe’s strongest clubs.

The list goes well beyond Victor Osimhen. Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Raphael Onyedika, George Ilenikhena, Alex Iwobi and Wilfred Ndidi have also played in the Champions League.

The seven Super Eagles stars have combined for more than 120 appearances and over 30 goals in the competition.

Their experience comes from clubs including Lille, Napoli, Galatasaray, RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, AC Milan, Club Brugge, Monaco, Arsenal and Leicester City.

The experience could be useful as Nigeria prepare to host Madagascar in Uyo on September 25 before travelling to tackle Guinea-Bissau for the second qualifier four days later.

Super Eagles players who have played in the Champions League

Victor Osimhen: Nigeria’s Champions League goals leader

Champions League record

Appearances: 27
Goals: 16
Assists: 2
Clubs: Lille, Napoli, Galatasaray
Starts: 25

Osimhen is Nigeria’s leading scorer in Champions League history with 16 goals. His 27 appearances also put him sixth among Nigerian players in the competition, behind Nwankwo Kanu, John Obi Mikel, Obafemi Martins, Taye Taiwo and Zaidu Sanusi.

The Super Eagles forward’s Champions League journey began with Lille in 2019/20 before his major European breakthrough at Napoli. He scored five goals in six appearances in 2022/23 and two in six appearances the following season. The 27-year-old forward then smashed seven goals in 10 Champions League matches for Galatasaray in 2025/26.

His standout campaign came in 2022/23, when he helped Napoli reach the quarter-finals for the first time. Osimhen scored twice against Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of the last-16 tie, including a powerful header in first-half stoppage time, as Napoli won 3-0 and advanced 5-0 on aggregate.

That record gives Chelle a striker who has already produced goals deep into Europe’s elite club competition.

Player	UCL apps	Goals	Assists	Clubs
Victor Osimhen	27	16	2	Lille, Napoli, Galatasaray
Raphael Onyedika	24	3	2	Midtjylland, Club Brugge
Ademola Lookman	23	8	5	Leipzig, Atalanta, Atlético
Samuel Chukwueze	20	4	1	Villarreal, AC Milan
George Ilenikhena	15	3	0	Antwerp, Monaco
Alex Iwobi	9	1	0	Arsenal
Wilfred Ndidi	4	0	0	Leicester City
🇳🇬 Combined	122	35	10

Ademola Lookman: Leipzig, Atalanta and Atlético Madrid

Champions League record

Appearances: 23
Goals: 8
Assists: 5
Clubs: RB Leipzig, Atalanta, Atlético Madrid

Ademola Lookman is credited with 23 Champions League appearances and eight goals. His clubs in the competition include RB Leipzig, Atalanta and Atlético Madrid.

His most recent Champions League campaign produced one of his clearest European moments. In April 2026, Lookman scored Atlético’s second goal against Barcelona in the quarter-final second leg at the Metropolitano. His 31st-minute finish helped Atlético win 2-1 on the night and 3-2 on aggregate to reach the semi-finals.

Lookman therefore brings recent knockout-stage experience against one of Europe’s most recognised clubs.

Samuel Chukwueze: Villarreal to AC Milan

Champions League record

Appearances: 20
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
Clubs: Villarreal, AC Milan

Chukwueze boasts 20 Champions League appearances and four goals for Villarreal and AC Milan.

His most memorable Champions League night came with Villarreal against Bayern Munich in April 2022.

Chukwueze came off the bench in the 84th minute with Villarreal leading 1-0 from the first leg. Bayern equalised through Robert Lewandowski, but Chukwueze struck in the 88th minute to secure a 1-1 draw in Munich. Villarreal won 2-1 on aggregate and reached the semi-finals.

Raphael Onyedika: the midfielder with serious Champions League mileage

Champions League record

Appearances: 24
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
Clubs: Midtjylland, Club Brugge

Onyedika is one of the less obvious names on this list, but his 24 Champions League appearances put him ahead of several better-known Nigerian players in UEFA’s historical rankings.

The Eintracht Frankfurt midfielder has featured in 24 matches in Europe’s premier club competition, while registering three goals and two assists.

His most memorable moment came against Manchester City in January 2025. Onyedika scored Club Brugge’s opening goal in a 3-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium, putting the Belgian side ahead before City fought back.

Onyedika also played in Club Brugge’s run to the 2025 round of 16, where the Belgian side faced Aston Villa. He started both legs of the tie.

George Ilenikhena: the young scorer against Barcelona

Champions League record

Appearances: 15
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
Clubs: Royal Antwerp, Monaco

Ilenikhena has already built a decent Champions League record before receiving his first senior Nigeria call-up. The youngster has made 15 appearances and scored three goals while on the books of Antwerp and Monaco.

His most famous Champions League moment came on December 13, 2023, when he scored for Antwerp against Barcelona.

The Nigerian was 17 when he came off the bench and scored in added time to give Antwerp a 3-2 victory. That result was Antwerp’s first-ever Champions League victory and it came against a Barcelona side containing Robert Lewandowski, İlkay Gündoğan and João Cancelo.

Ilenikhena repeated the fear when he moved to Monaco, scoring another continental winner against Barcelona.

The inclusion of the former Amiens ace in Nigeria’s squad means Chelle now has a 20-year-old forward who has already experienced Champions League football.

Alex Iwobi: Arsenal’s Champions League graduate

Champions League record

Appearances: 9
Starts: 6
Goals: 1
Assists: 0
Club: Arsenal

Iwobi made nine Champions League appearances during his Arsenal career, with six starts and one goal.

His European experience came during Arsenal’s 2015/16 and 2016/17 campaigns, when he was developing into a first-team player.

One memorable moment came against Paris Saint-Germain in November 2016. Iwobi’s header deflected in off Lucas Moura in the 77th minute as Arsenal drew 2-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

It has been six years since he last played in the Champions League, still Iwobi brings top experience into Chelle’s midfield alongside Ndidi, Onyedika and Frank Onyeka.

Wilfred Ndidi: four Champions League appearances

Champions League record

Appearances: 4
Goals: 0
Assists: 0
Club: Leicester City
Season: 2016/17

Ndidi’s Champions League numbers are smaller than those of Osimhen or Lookman, but his four appearances came during Leicester City’s historic first Champions League campaign.

Ndidi joined Leicester from Genk in January 2017 and quickly became part of the starting XI. At the time, he was a rising youngster who settled quickly into Leicester’s midfield.

His European campaign included Leicester’s famous last-16 victory over Sevilla. Ndidi started the second leg as Leicester overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit with a 2-0 home win to reach the quarter-finals.