Nigerian Players Shine in Europa and Conference League Playoffs

Twelve Nigerian players will take to the pitch across Europe today as their teams battle in the playoff round of the Europa League and Conference League. Each match is crucial for advancing to the league phase, writes PETER AKINBO.

EUROPA LEAGUE
Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)
Onuachu will lead Trabzonspor’s attack when they face Ferencvaros in the first leg of their playoff at Papara Park. The striker was a top scorer in the Super Lig last season with 22 goals. Trabzonspor’s head coach, Fatih Tekke, knows they are up against a tough opponent despite their ranking.
Onuachu will be key for the hosts to gain an advantage before the second leg in Budapest on August 27.

Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş)
Ndidi will control Beşiktaş’s midfield as they meet Kauno Zalgiris in the first leg of their Europa League playoff at Tupras Stadyumu. Coach Vincenzo Italiano’s team has four straight clean sheets in European qualifying, and Ndidi's defensive skills will be important to keep that going.
Beşiktaş has improved this summer with new players like Alexander Nubel, Kassoum Ouattara, Leandro Trossard, and Dusan Vlahovic joining the squad. With home advantage and strong individual talent, Ndidi is expected to help his team secure a solid lead before next week’s return leg in Lithuania.

Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia)
Uzoho will guard Omonia’s goal when they face Sint-Truiden in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. Under Henning Berg, the team has only given up two goals in four European matches this season, thanks to Uzoho’s steady performance.
Omonia has already secured a place in the League Phase for the third time in a row. Uzoho will aim for another clean sheet against Sint-Truiden, who have drawn their first two league matches this season.

Salim Fago Lawal (Viktoria Plzen)
Lawal faces a challenging away match as Viktoria Plzen visits Red Star Belgrade at Stadion Rajko Mitic for the first leg of their Europa League playoff. Plzen got a lucky chance to play in this round after Karvina was expelled by UEFA for match-fixing.
Plzen has had a rough start to the domestic league, winning only one of their first four games. Lawal will need to help stop a Red Star team that has won three consecutive Super Liga matches by an aggregate of 10-1.

Bamidele Yusuf (Ferencvaros)
Yusuf will aim to break through Trabzonspor’s defense when Ferencvaros visits for the first leg of their Europa League playoff. The Hungarian champions come to Turkey with confidence after beating Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the last round.
Ferencvaros has not lost away from home in this season’s qualifiers. Yusuf is expected to be a key player as his team seeks a positive result to take back to Budapest.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE
Zadok Yohanna (Brighton)
Yohanna will join Brighton as they begin their Conference League campaign against Tromso in the first leg of their playoff. Coach Fabian Hurzeler’s side is coming off a successful pre-season, winning against Roma and Bologna. However, they will miss Danny Welbeck, who transferred to Chelsea.
Tromso is currently third in the Eliteserien and has not lost in their last two European matches, defeating Aalesund and CFR Cluj. Yohanna’s performance could be crucial as Brighton aims to establish a strong start before facing Aston Villa in the Premier League this weekend.

Tolu Arokodare (Ajax)
Arokodare will look to boost Ajax as they travel to Sion for the first leg of their Conference League playoff. Ajax remains unbeaten in six matches since their new coach Michel took over, but they have not won in their last two games.
Sion has scored three or more goals in four of their last six matches and is in good form. Arokodare may be needed to provide the spark for Ajax to secure a good result ahead of next week’s return leg in Amsterdam.

Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers)
Fernandez will feature for Rangers as they host Jablonec in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Ibrox. Rangers dropped to this competition after losing to Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying. They did win 5-1 against St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup recently.
Jablonec comes to Ibrox after winning six straight matches and being unbeaten in nine home games. Fernandez will play a key role in helping Rangers avoid another continental setback this summer.

Taofeek Ismaheel (Gornik Zabrze)
Ismaheel may play for Gornik Zabrze as they host Monaco in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Arena Zabrze. This match marks Gornik’s first home game against a Ligue 1 team since 1971.
Gornik has not won yet in European qualifying this season but has gone unbeaten in their last four competitive matches at home. Ismaheel will aim to help his team take advantage of home ground against a Monaco team with a new manager, Filipe Luis.

Ibrahim Said (Motherwell)
Said and Motherwell will host Freiburg in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Fir Park. Motherwell has scored two or more goals in nine of their last 11 European matches and comes into this game unbeaten in their first two league matches of the season.
Freiburg reached their first-ever European final last season but lost to Aston Villa. They have struggled in away matches in Europe, losing three of their last four. Said will hope to take advantage of this as Motherwell aims for a good result before the second leg.

Adebisi Olamikun (SC Braga)
Olamikun will join Braga as they host Austria Vienna in the first leg of their Conference League playoff. Braga dealt with a gastrointestinal infection that disrupted their training, causing a domestic match to be postponed.
Braga has kept clean sheets in all four qualifying matches this season and won nine of their last 11 European home matches. Olamikun will aim to help maintain this strong defensive record against an Austria Vienna side looking for a spot in the continental competition since 2022-23.

Ibrahim Buhari (Austria Wien)
Buhari will look to make an impact when Austria Vienna faces Braga away in the first leg of their Conference League playoff. Coach Stephan Helm’s team needed penalties to get past Beitar Jerusalem in the previous round after losing the first leg. But they bounced back by winning their first Bundesliga match of the season, beating Hartberg 2-0.
Buhari’s team has won four competitive matches outside Vienna this season, including both away matches in Conference League qualifying. He will be crucial for Austria Vienna to challenge a solid Braga defense.