Onuachu, Ndidi, Yohanna lead 12 Nigerians into Europa, Conference League playoffs

Twelve Nigerian players will be in action across Europe on Thursday (today) as their clubs contest the playoff round of the Europa League and Conference League, with a place in the league phase at stake in every tie, PETER AKINBO writes

EUROPA LEAGUE

Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor)

Onuachu will spearhead Trabzonspor’s attack when they host Ferencvaros in the first leg of their playoff tie at Papara Park on Thursday. The striker, who finished as the Super Lig’s joint-top scorer last season with 22 goals, is expected to lead the line even as head coach Fatih Tekke has admitted his side face a tougher opponent than their bracket position suggests.

Onuachu will therefore be central to any attempt by the hosts to build an advantage before the return leg in Budapest on August 27.

Wilfred Ndidi (Beşiktaş)

Ndidi will anchor Beşiktaş’s midfield when they host Kauno Zalgiris in the first leg of their Europa League playoff at Tupras Stadyumu. Vincenzo Italiano’s side head into the match on a run of four consecutive clean sheets in European qualifying, and Ndidi’s defensive discipline in front of the back four will be key to extending that record.

Beşiktaş have been significantly strengthened this summer with the arrivals of Alexander Nubel, Kassoum Ouattara, Leandro Trossard and Dusan Vlahovic, and with home advantage and greater individual quality throughout the squad, Ndidi will be expected to help his side build a healthy lead before next week’s return leg in Lithuania.

Francis Uzoho (Omonia Nicosia)

Uzoho will be entrusted with Omonia’s goal when the Cypriot champions travel to face Sint-Truiden in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. Henning Berg’s side have conceded just two goals in four European fixtures this season, a record built in no small part on the Nigerian goalkeeper’s consistency between the posts.

Omonia have already guaranteed a third successive League Phase campaign in continental football as a bare minimum, and Uzoho will be aiming to keep another clean sheet against a Sint-Truiden side that has managed only two draws from its opening two league matches this season.

Salim Fago Lawal (Viktoria Plzen)

Lawal faces a daunting away assignment as Viktoria Plzen travel to Stadion Rajko Mitic to face Red Star Belgrade in the first leg of their Europa League playoff. The Czech side inherited their place in this round after fellow domestic club Karvina was expelled by UEFA for a match-fixing scandal, handing Martin Hysky’s men a fortunate route into the tie.

Plzen head into the match on the back of a poor domestic start, having won just one of their opening four top-flight fixtures, and Lawal will be needed to help stem a Red Star side that has won three straight Super Liga matches by an aggregate score of 10-1.

Bamidele Yusuf (Ferencvaros)

Yusuf will look to trouble Trabzonspor’s defence when Ferencvaros travel to Papara Park for the first leg of their Europa League playoff. The Hungarian champions arrive in Turkey full of confidence after overcoming Gornik Zabrze 2-1 on aggregate in the previous qualifying round, a result that has already guaranteed them at least a place in the League Phase.

Ferencvaros have remained unbeaten away from home throughout this season’s qualifying campaign, and Yusuf will be expected to provide an attacking outlet as his side attempt to take a positive result back to Budapest for the return leg.

CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Zadok Yohanna (Brighton)

Yohanna will be part of a Brighton squad opening its Conference League campaign away at Tromso in the first leg of their playoff tie. Fabian Hurzeler’s side head into the match on the back of a positive pre-season that included wins over Roma and Bologna, though they must now do without former talisman Danny Welbeck, who left for Chelsea in the summer.

Tromso, sitting third in the Eliteserien and unbeaten in their last two European ties, having thrashed Aalesund and CFR Cluj on their way to this stage, will provide a stern early test, and Yohanna’s role could prove pivotal as Brighton look to lay down a marker before hosting Aston Villa in the Premier League at the weekend.

Tolu Arokodare (Ajax)

Arokodare will hope to add firepower to an Ajax side that travels to face Sion in the first leg of their Conference League playoff on Thursday. Michel’s team have remained unbeaten in six matches since the former Girona coach’s arrival, though they have failed to win in their last two outings and are without the attacking quality once provided by Mika Godts and Wout Weghorst, both of whom left the club this summer.

Sion have scored three or more goals in four of their last six matches and head into the tie in strong form, meaning Arokodare could be called upon to provide a cutting edge for an Ajax side seeking a positive result to take into next week’s return leg in Amsterdam.

Emmanuel Fernandez (Rangers)

Fernandez will be part of a Rangers side still finding its footing under new manager Derek McInnes as they host Jablonec in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Ibrox. The Gers dropped into this competition after a shock elimination by Jagiellonia Bialystok in Europa League qualifying, but registered their first win of the season with a 5-1 thrashing of St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup last time out.

Jablonec arrive at Ibrox on the back of six straight wins in all competitions and unbeaten in nine matches at home, and Fernandez will have a role to play in ensuring Rangers do not suffer a second continental setback this summer.

Taofeek Ismaheel (Gornik Zabrze)

Ismaheel could feature for Gornik Zabrze as they host Monaco in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Arena Zabrze, a fixture that marks the Polish side’s first home meeting with a Ligue 1 club since 1971. Michal Gasparik’s men have yet to win a match in European qualifying this season but remain unbeaten in their last four competitive fixtures on home soil.

Gornik dropped into this competition after a narrow defeat to Ferencvaros in Europa League qualifying, and Ismaheel will be looking to help his side make home advantage count against a Monaco side under new manager Filipe Luis for the first time in a competitive fixture.

Ibrahim Said (Motherwell)

Said and Motherwell host Freiburg in the first leg of their Conference League playoff at Fir Park. Alfred Johansson’s side have scored two or more goals in nine of their last 11 European outings and head into the match unbeaten in two league fixtures to start the season.

Freiburg, who reached their first ever European final last season before losing 3-0 to Aston Villa, have struggled on their travels in continental competition, losing three of their last four away European fixtures, and Said will hope to exploit that vulnerability as Motherwell look to seize an advantage before the second leg.

Adebisi Olamikun (SC Braga)

Olamikun will be part of a Braga side returning to action on Thursday when they host Austria Vienna in the first leg of their Conference League playoff, having overcome a gastrointestinal infection outbreak that disrupted their preparations and forced the postponement of a domestic fixture.

Carlos Vicens’s side have kept clean sheets in all four qualifying matches this season and have won nine of their last 11 European home matches inside 90 minutes.

Olamikun will be aiming to help maintain that defensive record against an Austria Vienna side chasing its first appearance on the main stage of a continental competition since 2022-23.

Ibrahim Buhari (Austria Wien)

The second Ibrahim on the list, Buhari will look to cause an upset when Austria Vienna travel to Minho to face Braga in the first leg of their Conference League playoff. Stephan Helm’s side needed penalties to overcome Beitar Jerusalem in the previous round after surrendering a first-leg advantage, but they responded by claiming their first Austrian Bundesliga points of the season, beating Hartberg 2-0 at the weekend.

Buhari’s side have won four competitive matches outside Vienna this season, including both of their away fixtures in Conference League qualifying, and he will be central to any attempt by Austria Vienna to spring a surprise against a well-organised Braga defence.