Following the draw on Thursday, Nigerian players will face a challenging challenge in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.
In Group C, Victor Osimhen and his Napoli teammates will compete against Real Madrid, Braga of Portugal, and Union Berlin of the German Bundesliga.
The most successful team in competitive history is Real Madrid. The greatest challenge for Napoli in the group will come from Carlo Ancelotti’s group.
While debutants Union Berlin shouldn’t cause the Partenopei too much trouble, Braga will be a respectable opponent.
Last season, Napoli won a group that included Liverpool, Ajax, and Rangers, and they should do the same this year.
In Group F, Samuel Chukwueze, the newest member of AC Milan, will compete against Newcastle United of the Premier League, Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, and Ligue 1 champion Paris Saint-Germain.
Last year, AC Milan reached the semi-finals, and this year, they hope to advance even further.
In Group H, three Nigerian athletes will compete. Zaidu Sanusi, a left-back, plays for FC Porto of Portugal, and Chidera Ejuke and Alhassan Yusuf will be wearing the colours of Royal Antwerp.
The other teams in the group are the Spanish powerhouse Barcelona and the Ukrainian team Shakhtar Donetsk.
Group G includes Peter Olayinka’s Reds Star Belgrade, Manchester City, RB Leipzig of Germany, and Young Boys of Switzerland.
In Group D, Real Sociedad of La Liga will compete against Benfica of Portugal, Red Bull Salzburg of Austria, and Inter Milan, last season’s champions, as well as having attacker Sadiq Umar among their ranks.
