Nigerian Players in the Champions League 2026/27

Nine Nigerian players are registered in the Champions League 2026/27 league phase, led by two Super Eagles stars: Victor Osimhen at Galatasaray and Ademola Lookman at Atlético Madrid. Moses Usor of LASK and Zaidu Sanusi of Porto are the other full internationals, and Slavia Praha carry four Nigerians in their squad. Here is each player’s club, role, Matchday 1 story and next game in Nigerian time, with ChampBet odds.

The list comes from UEFA’s league phase squad registrations, checked on 7 October 2026. All prices are ChampBet odds on 7 October 2026 and will move before kick-off.

Nigerian players in the Champions League 2026/27 at a glance

Player	Club	Position	Super Eagles	Matchday 2 (WAT)
Victor Osimhen	Galatasaray	Striker	Capped	vs Barcelona, Tue 13 Oct, 20:00
Ademola Lookman	Atlético Madrid	Forward	Capped	vs Man Utd, Tue 13 Oct, 20:00
Moses Usor	LASK	Forward	Capped	vs Liverpool, Wed 14 Oct, 17:45
Zaidu Sanusi	Porto	Left-back	Capped (injured)	at Real Betis, Wed 14 Oct, 20:00
Christian Nwachukwu	Sabah	Winger	Not yet	vs Slavia Praha, Tue 13 Oct, 17:45
Samuel Isife	Slavia Praha	Midfielder	Not yet	at Sabah, Tue 13 Oct, 17:45
Emmanuel Ayaosi	Slavia Praha	Forward	Not yet	at Sabah, Tue 13 Oct, 17:45
Mubarak Suleiman	Slavia Praha	Attacking midfielder	Called up, uncapped	at Sabah, Tue 13 Oct, 17:45
David Moses	Slavia Praha	Midfielder	Not yet	at Sabah, Tue 13 Oct, 17:45

Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray)

The 2023 African Footballer of the Year is Galatasaray’s centre-forward and the biggest Nigerian name in the competition. He missed Matchday 1, a 3-1 defeat at Sporting, after straining his right adductor on 4 September against Başakşehir, after scoring the opening goal. Before the injury he had six goals and two assists in his first four Süper Lig games. Punch reports that Galatasaray planned around 30 minutes for him against Kasımpaşa on Friday 9 October, four days before Barcelona come to Istanbul.

Osimhen knows this opponent. He scored Napoli’s equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Barcelona in the 2023/24 round of 16.

• Next game: Galatasaray vs Barcelona, Tuesday 13 October, 20:00 WAT.
• ChampBet odds: Galatasaray 8.00, draw 6.90, Barcelona 1.28. Both teams to score: Yes 1.42.
• Outright: top scorer 67.00.

Our Galatasaray vs Barcelona prediction has the full team news, and the Galatasaray vs Barcelona match page has every market.

Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid)

Lookman joined Atlético from Atalanta on deadline day of the January 2026 window, in a deal the BBC put at £30.3 million, and signed until June 2030. He was the 2024 African Footballer of the Year and scored a hat-trick in the 2024 Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen. He plays as a second striker or on either wing for Diego Simeone.

On Matchday 1 he came off the bench just before the hour in a 2-1 defeat at Liverpool. His season has started slowly, and he is fighting for a starting place in a crowded attack, so watch the line-up.

• Next game: Atlético Madrid vs Manchester United, Tuesday 13 October, 20:00 WAT.
• ChampBet odds: Atlético 2.16, draw 3.78, Man Utd 3.10. Both teams to score: Yes 1.42.
• Outrights: top scorer 67.00, most assists 81.00.

For Nigerian fans this is the game of the round: a Super Eagle against one of the most followed clubs in the country. Our Atlético Madrid vs Man Utd prediction breaks it down, and here is the Atlético vs Man Utd match page.

Moses Usor (LASK)

Usor is the newest Super Eagle on this list. On his debut against Madagascar in Uyo on 25 September he came on in the 61st minute and scored the winner four minutes later in a 2-1 win, as Punch reported. He is a direct, running forward and one of LASK’s main attackers. He played the full match in LASK’s 1-0 defeat at AEK Athens on Matchday 1, and LASK kept him back from the Super Eagles’ friendly in Russia this week.

• Next game: LASK vs Liverpool, Wednesday 14 October, 17:45 WAT.
• ChampBet odds: LASK 11.00, draw 7.30, Liverpool 1.22. Both teams to score: Yes 1.80.

Read our LASK vs Liverpool prediction for how LASK might hurt Liverpool.

Zaidu Sanusi (Porto)

Zaidu is an experienced left-back with years of Champions League football at Porto. He hurt his right adductor on 29 August and Punch put his recovery at about two months, so he missed Matchday 1, a 2-0 home defeat to Manchester City, and Matchday 2 looks too soon.

• Next game: Real Betis vs Porto, Wednesday 14 October, 20:00 WAT.
• ChampBet odds: Betis 2.22, draw 3.66, Porto 3.06.

Christian Nwachukwu (Sabah)

The 20-year-old winger left Sheffield United for Sabah of Azerbaijan this summer without playing a first-team game in England. In Baku he has found a stage: he started at Old Trafford on Matchday 1, when Sabah lost 4-0 to Manchester United. He has not yet been capped by Nigeria.

• Next game: Sabah vs Slavia Praha, Tuesday 13 October, 17:45 WAT.
• ChampBet odds: Sabah 3.62, draw 3.75, Slavia 1.97. Both teams to score: Yes 1.55.

This is the one fixture this round with Nigerians on both sides.

Slavia Praha’s Nigerian four

Slavia lost 3-2 to Lens on Matchday 1 after twice leading with ten men. Four Nigerians are in their squad:

• Samuel Isife (midfielder): started against Lens and tried a shot from near the halfway line. ESPN’s stats credit him with the assist for Danijel Šturm’s opener.
• Emmanuel Ayaosi (forward): played the full 90 and had a goal ruled out for handball.
• Mubarak Suleiman (attacking midfielder): earned his first Super Eagles call-up in September, but could not travel to Russia because his residence permit was not ready, the NFF said. He was an unused substitute on Matchday 1.
• David Moses (midfielder): an unused substitute on Matchday 1.

Slavia are at Sabah on Tuesday 13 October at 17:45 WAT, at 1.97 to win. Here is the Sabah vs Slavia Praha match page.

Nigerian players not in this season’s Champions League

Some big Super Eagles names will only watch this season. Raphael Onyedika left Club Brugge for Eintracht Frankfurt, who are not in the competition, as the NFF’s squad update in Punch confirms. Calvin Bassey, Wilfred Ndidi, Samuel Chukwueze, Moses Simon, Alhassan Yusuf and Terem Moffi are not in any of the 36 league phase squads. Prosper Obah of Shakhtar Donetsk and Igoh Ogbu of Slavia Praha are at qualified clubs but were not registered for the league phase.

Galatasaray midfielder Lesley Ugochukwu, born in France to Nigerian parents and uncapped at senior level, is in the league phase squad and is eligible for Nigeria.

Nigerian roots across the Champions League

Many more players with Nigerian heritage represent other countries. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke play for Arsenal and England. Michael Olise (France) and Jamal Musiala (Germany) are at Bayern Munich, Karim Adeyemi (Germany) is at Barcelona and Felix Nmecha (Germany) is at Borussia Dortmund. Olise is one of the favourites for most assists at 10.00. Our Champions League players to watch covers him and the other stars of the season.

Nigerians on Matchday 2: your viewing guide

Kick-off (WAT)	Match	Nigerian interest	ChampBet 1X2
Tue 17:45	Sabah vs Slavia Praha	Nwachukwu; Isife, Ayaosi, Suleiman, Moses	3.62 / 3.75 / 1.97
Tue 20:00	Galatasaray vs Barcelona	Osimhen	8.00 / 6.90 / 1.28
Tue 20:00	Atlético Madrid vs Man Utd	Lookman	2.16 / 3.78 / 3.10
Wed 17:45	LASK vs Liverpool	Usor	11.00 / 7.30 / 1.22
Wed 20:00	Real Betis vs Porto	Zaidu (injured)	2.22 / 3.66 / 3.06

Matchday 3 on 20 and 21 October brings Lille vs Galatasaray and Stuttgart vs Atlético Madrid, and from Matchday 4 kick-offs move to 18:45 and 21:00 WAT. Our Champions League fixtures in Nigerian time lists every game, and the Matchday 2 predictions give our pick for all 18.

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Predictions and odds are a guide, not a promise, and football is unpredictable. Back our players with your voice first and your money only within your budget.

New to the format? Our Champions League betting tips explain the 36-club league phase.

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