📌 Quick answer: Eight players with Nigerian nationality are registered in 2026/27 Champions League league-phase squads, according to UEFA’s official squad lists: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (Atlético Madrid), Zaidu Sanusi (Porto), Moses Usor (LASK), Christian Nwachukwu (Sabah), and Samuel Isife, Mubarak Suleiman and Emmanuel Ayaosi (all Slavia Prague). Lookman has scored once so far. Two all-Nigerian meetings are on the calendar: Porto vs Slavia Prague on 19 January and LASK vs Porto on 27 January 2027.
Lists of “Nigerians in the Champions League” go around every season, and they rarely agree. To get a definitive answer, NaijaSabi checked the registered squad of every one of the 36 clubs in the league phase on UEFA.com and counted every player UEFA lists with Nigerian nationality. Players of Nigerian heritage who represent another country are not included.
All Nigerian Players in the 2026/27 Champions League
| Player | Club | Position | Age | Apps / goals this season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Victor Osimhen | Galatasaray (Türkiye) | Forward | 27 | 1 / 0 |
| Ademola Lookman | Atlético Madrid (Spain) | Forward | 28 | 2 / 1 |
| Zaidu Sanusi | Porto (Portugal) | Defender | 29 | 0 / 0 |
| Moses Usor | LASK (Austria) | Forward | 24 | 3 / 1 |
| Christian Nwachukwu | Sabah (Azerbaijan) | Forward | 20 | 5 / 1 |
| Samuel Isife | Slavia Prague (Czechia) | Midfielder | 22 | 2 / 0 |
| Emmanuel Ayaosi | Slavia Prague (Czechia) | Midfielder | 21 | 2 / 0 |
| Mubarak Suleiman | Slavia Prague (Czechia) | Midfielder | 19 | 1 / 0 |
Some earlier lists also named Raphael Onyedika and Prosper Obah. Neither appears in his club’s registered Champions League squad on UEFA.com, so they are not included here. Clubs can change their squad lists during the season, so we will update this page if that changes.
The Players
Victor Osimhen – Galatasaray
The Super Eagles’ main striker is Nigeria’s biggest name in the competition. Injury limited him to one appearance in the first two matchdays: he played the full 90 minutes of the 4-1 home defeat to Barcelona on 13 October. Galatasaray lost their opener 3-1 at Sporting CP too, so they start matchday 3 without a point and badly need Osimhen’s goals over the remaining six games.
Ademola Lookman – Atlético Madrid
Lookman, who moved to Atlético from Atalanta, has played both of Diego Simeone’s Champions League games and has already scored once. Atlético lost 2-1 at Liverpool on the opening night and then beat Manchester United 2-0, leaving them on three points.
Zaidu Sanusi – Porto
The left-back is in Porto’s squad but has not played in the competition yet this season. Porto have lost both games, 2-0 at home to Manchester City and 3-2 at Real Betis, so the remaining six will decide whether they reach the knockout play-offs.
Moses Usor – LASK
Usor helped LASK reach the league phase through the qualifying rounds and has a goal to his name in this season’s competition. LASK lost 1-0 at AEK Athens and then 6-3 at home to Liverpool, so they are still looking for their first point.
Christian Nwachukwu – Sabah
At 20, Nwachukwu is part of Sabah’s first-ever Champions League league-phase campaign and has five appearances and a goal including qualifying. The Azerbaijani club lost 4-0 at Manchester United on matchday 1 and then won their first league-phase game, 2-0 at home to Slavia Prague.
Samuel Isife, Emmanuel Ayaosi and Mubarak Suleiman – Slavia Prague
Slavia Prague have more Nigerians than any other club in the competition: three midfielders. Isife and Ayaosi have both played twice and the 19-year-old Suleiman once. Slavia lost 3-2 at home to Lens and 2-0 at Sabah, so they are on zero points.
When to Watch Them: Remaining Fixtures in Nigerian Time
Kick-offs this week (matchday 3) are 5:45pm or 8pm Nigerian time. From matchday 4, after Europe’s clocks go back on 25 October, they are 6:45pm or 9pm.
| Club (players) | Remaining league-phase fixtures (WAT) |
|---|---|
| Galatasaray (Osimhen) | Wed 21 Oct: Lille (a), 5:45pm · Tue 3 Nov: Stuttgart (h), 6:45pm · Tue 24 Nov: Aston Villa (h), 6:45pm · Tue 8 Dec: AEK Athens (a), 9pm · Tue 19 Jan: Feyenoord (h), 6:45pm · Wed 27 Jan: PSG (a), 9pm |
| Atlético Madrid (Lookman) | Tue 20 Oct: Stuttgart (a), 8pm · Tue 3 Nov: Bayern Munich (h), 9pm · Wed 25 Nov: Viking (h), 9pm · Wed 9 Dec: PSV (a), 9pm · Tue 19 Jan: Bodø/Glimt (a), 6:45pm · Wed 27 Jan: Fenerbahçe (h), 9pm |
| Porto (Zaidu) | Tue 20 Oct: PSV (h), 8pm · Wed 4 Nov: Napoli (h), 9pm · Tue 24 Nov: Feyenoord (a), 9pm · Wed 9 Dec: Liverpool (a), 9pm · Tue 19 Jan: Slavia Prague (h), 9pm · Wed 27 Jan: LASK (a), 9pm |
| LASK (Usor) | Wed 21 Oct: Sporting CP (a), 8pm · Tue 3 Nov: Slovan Bratislava (h), 9pm · Tue 24 Nov: Bodø/Glimt (a), 6:45pm · Wed 9 Dec: Fenerbahçe (h), 9pm · Tue 19 Jan: Real Madrid (a), 9pm · Wed 27 Jan: Porto (h), 9pm |
| Sabah (Nwachukwu) | Tue 20 Oct: Borussia Dortmund (h), 5:45pm · Wed 4 Nov: Viking (a), 9pm · Wed 25 Nov: Barcelona (h), 6:45pm · Tue 8 Dec: Villarreal (a), 6:45pm · Wed 20 Jan: Napoli (h), 6:45pm · Wed 27 Jan: Arsenal (a), 9pm |
| Slavia Prague (Isife, Ayaosi, Suleiman) | Tue 20 Oct: Fenerbahçe (a), 5:45pm · Wed 4 Nov: Arsenal (h), 9pm · Wed 25 Nov: Villarreal (h), 6:45pm · Tue 8 Dec: Bayern Munich (a), 9pm · Tue 19 Jan: Porto (a), 9pm · Wed 27 Jan: Aston Villa (h), 9pm |
Nigerian meetings to mark on your calendar
- Porto vs Slavia Prague – Tuesday 19 January 2027, 9pm: Zaidu Sanusi against Slavia’s three Nigerian midfielders.
- LASK vs Porto – Wednesday 27 January 2027, 9pm: Moses Usor against Zaidu on the final night of the league phase, when all 18 games kick off together.
Can the Nigerian Clubs Make the Knockouts?
In the 36-team league phase, the top eight go straight to the round of 16, teams ranked 9th to 24th play knockout play-offs and the bottom 12 are eliminated. After two games, Atlético Madrid and Sabah have three points each, while Galatasaray, Porto, LASK and Slavia Prague have none. With six matches left, every one of these clubs can still reach the play-off places, but the four without a point need results quickly. For this week’s full schedule, see our Champions League matchday 3 guide in Nigerian time.
How to Watch in Nigeria
UEFA lists SuperSport as its Champions League broadcast partner in Nigeria, on DStv. Games involving smaller clubs such as Sabah, LASK or Slavia Prague are not always on the main channels, so check the SuperSport schedule for the channel before kick-off. Avoid illegal streaming sites, which often carry malware and fake login pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Nigerian players are in the Champions League in 2026/27?
Eight players with Nigerian nationality are registered in league-phase squads, according to UEFA.com.
Which club has the most Nigerian players in the Champions League?
Slavia Prague, with three: Samuel Isife, Emmanuel Ayaosi and Mubarak Suleiman.
Is Osimhen playing in the Champions League this season?
Yes. He is in Galatasaray’s squad and played the full game against Barcelona on matchday 2 after returning from injury.
Has Lookman scored in the Champions League this season?
Yes, once in his first two appearances for Atlético Madrid, according to UEFA.
When do two Nigerian players face each other?
Porto vs Slavia Prague on 19 January 2027 and LASK vs Porto on 27 January 2027, both at 9pm Nigerian time.
Sources
- UEFA – Champions League 2026/27 club squad pages for all 36 league-phase clubs, and player statistics
- UEFA – “2026/27 Champions League: All the league phase fixtures and results”, updated 14 October 2026
- UEFA – “Where to watch the Champions League: TV broadcast partners”
Last updated: 20 October 2026 · NaijaSabi Football Desk.
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