We are nearly there.
Finals around the corner, title races heating up, and Nigerian players are right in the middle of it across Europe. Some are favourites, some are outsiders… but all of them have something to play for.
Here are ten Nigerian stars who could be lifting silverware come May.
Ademola Lookman – Atletico Madrid (Champions League)
This is the big one.
Ademola Lookman has a real chance of winning the Champions League. Atletico Madrid are deep into the competition, and at this stage, anything can happen.
Knockout football is all about moments, and Lookman is the kind of player who can produce them. If Atletico get it right over two legs and then in a final, he could be lifting the biggest trophy in club football.
It would be massive. They are the most unlikely and have the highest odds, but there is always a chance…
Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray (League)
Victor Osimhen.
You already know what he brings. Goals.
Galatasaray are right in the title race in Turkey, and with Osimhen leading the line, they always have a chance.
He is the kind of striker that wins you leagues. Give him chances, he will score. Simple as that.
If Galatasaray get over the line, you can almost guarantee he will have played a huge part in it.
Francis Uzoho – Omonia (League)
Francis Uzoho is not always the headline name, but he could quietly end the season with a league title.
Omonia are right in the mix in Cyprus, and in a tight title race, goalkeepers can be the difference. If they hold their nerve, this is very achievable. It will not be flashy, but for Uzoho, this would be a massive achievement.
A league title in Europe always stands out, especially when you are playing a key role between the sticks. This is one that could easily happen.
Bruno Onyemaechi – Olympiacos (League)
Bruno Onyemaechi has landed himself in a very strong position. Olympiacos are one of the dominant forces in Greece and are always expected to be fighting for the title. Since joining, he has slotted into a side that knows how to win.
They have already shown they can get over the line in big moments, and that winning mentality is huge at this stage of the season. If they stay consistent, Onyemaechi could be adding a league title to his name in his first full season there.
Emmanuel Fernandez – Rangers (League)
Rangers are always in a straight fight at the top of Scotland, and this season is no different. This title race with Hearts has been relentless. Fernandez finds himself in a side that expects to win every week, and that pressure can either make or break you.
If Rangers can string results together in these final weeks, they have a real shot. It will go down to fine margins, but being in that environment gives him a genuine chance of lifting the league trophy.
Igoh Ogbu – Slavia Prague (League)
Slavia Prague are one of the most consistent teams in the Czech league, and Ogbu is part of a side that is used to winning. They have been right at the top all season, and this is the kind of league where momentum carries you through.
If they keep doing what they have been doing, this is one of the more likely titles on this list. making it a strong candidate for our single bet of the day. It would not be a shock at all to see Ogbu end the season as a league champion.
Zaidu Sanusi – Porto (League)
Porto are always in the fight, every single season.
Zaidu Sanusi knows what it takes to win in Portugal, and this year is no different. It is a tough battle with the likes of Benfica and Sporting, but Porto always find a way to stay in it.
If they can put a run together in these final weeks, they are more than capable of taking the title. For Sanusi, this would just add to an already strong CV at a top European club.
Yira Collins Sor – Genk (League)
Genk are one of the most exciting teams in Belgium, but also one of the most unpredictable. On their day, they can beat anyone, and that is why they are in the title conversation.
Sor brings pace and directness, and in a tight race, those moments can be crucial. It is not guaranteed, but if Genk hit form at the right time, they have a real chance of finishing on top.
Frank Onyeka – Coventry (League)
Onyeka has been absolutely fantastic under Frank Lampard since he arrived in January. Coventry haven’t mathematically won the league yet, but it seems as though it will definitely happen.
He has been a big reason that Coventry have achieved promotion to the Premier League, they will be fighting hard to keep him in the summer, but surely Frank stays under Frank?
Raphael Onyedika – Club Brugge (League)
Raphael Onyedika is in a very strong position.
Club Brugge are right at the top in Belgium and have already shown they know how to win trophies, including a recent domestic cup success.
That experience is huge.
They have the squad, the depth and the mentality to go all the way again. If they do, Onyedika will be right at the centre of it, controlling games and doing the work that wins titles.
