Nigerian footballers have left an indelible mark on European competitions, from record-breaking goals to historic triumphs. Here are five standout moments.
AMOKACHI NETS THE FIRST UCL GOAL IN HISTORY
November 25, 1992, the bright European lights cast a beautiful glow on the historic Jan Breydelstadion in Belgium. The European Cup had formally become a thing of the past, rebranded into the UEFA Champions League. On a night when globally renowned stars of the beautiful game took to the pitch to impress and make a mark in the UCL, a young Nigerian forward stood out.Â
The 20-year-old relatively unknown forward plying his trade with Club Brugge, struck decisively at the heart of the CSKA Moscow defense in the 17th minute to grab the first goal of the refurbished competition in Brugge’s opening group stage match, etching his name into the history books. His lone goal was the difference between both sides at the full-time whistle.Â
AGBA BALLER, AFRICA’S MISS CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
It’s hard to keep track of Asisat Oshoala’s illustrious records in the UEFA Champions League as numerous records have tumbled in her path.
In 2019, she became the first African female player to score a goal in a UEFA Women’s Champions League final. The 69th-minute substitute grabbed a consolation goal for the side in the 89th minute as they fell to Olympique Lyonnais.Â
Despite the heartbreak, she wasn’t deterred as she became the first female African player to win the UEFA Women’s Champions League on the 16th of May 2021, as Barcelona Femeni dismantled Chelsea to grab their maiden Champions League title.Â
She picked up her second and third titles in the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, respectively.Â
Following Barca’s triumph over Lyon in the Champions League final on the 25th of May 2024, she became the first African female footballer to win the UEFA Champions League three times, joining Samuel Eto’o as the only African with three UCL medals.Â
She currently plies her trade with Bay Football Club in the United States. Sadly, she won’t be adding to her records anytime soon.Â
ENYEAMA THE GOALSCORER
Goalkeepers are famed for their ability behind the goalposts, sharp reflexes, and stunning stops.Â
It’s often rare to see a goalie performing tasks of outfield players, scoring goals and not saving goals.
On the 29th of September 2010, Nigeria’s GOAT keeper, Vincent Enyeama joined an illustrious list of goalkeepers to have bagged a goal in the UEFA Champions League.Â
While on the books of Hapoel Tel Aviv, he buried a penalty against Olympique Lyonnais in the Champions League, a 79th-minute penalty in a 3-1 home loss in the Israeli club’s second group stage match.Â
He is one of four goalkeepers who have netted a goal in Europe’s biggest club competition, and he remains the only African goalie to have done so.Â
A CLASS OF HIS OWN
Nigerians have hounded Yakubu Aiyegbeni since his costly miss against South Korea in the 2010 World Cup, the passage of time failing to appease their anger at the mercurial forward.Â
However, a couple of years earlier, a young Aiyegbeni carved a large slice of history for himself in the Champions League. The young forwards were still on the books of Israeli club Maccabi Haifa back then. As the Israeli club played host to Greek side Olympiacos, Yak stole the show. He was unstoppable in the match, bagging a hat trick to lead his team to a resounding 3-0 victory.Â
He became the first African player to bag a UCL hat trick. Although other African players have bagged Champions League hat-tricks since then, he remains the only Nigerian male footballer to have scored a hat-trick in Europe’s biggest club competition.Â
ADEMOLA LOOKMAN: THE MAN, THE MYTH, THE LEGEND
One man brought Europe to a standstill on an infamous UEFA Europa League final night.
On the 22nd of May 2024, Atalanta stood as the final obstacle in Leverkusen’s illustrious quest for an unbeaten treble. The German club were favourites coming into the final and rightly so, their credentials were simply extraordinary.
Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on the club you support, fate had other ideas as a Nigerian international single-handedly handed the trophy to his team. No, it wasn’t Victor Boniface. Instead, Ademola Lookman rose to the occasion in imperious fashion and announced his name on the big stage. Lookman grabbed a brace in the first half to put his team two-nil up at the break, and he completed his treble in the second half. An unforgettable historical night! Atalanta, Europa League champions courtesy of the brilliance of one man first trophy in 61 years
He became the first player to score a treble in a Europa League final, the first hat trick hero in a major European final in over 35 years, and the first footballer player to score a hat trick in a one-legged men’s European final since 1969. He is in a class of his own!
