Nigerian footballers across Europe have learnt their fate for the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League after Thursday’s league phase draw in Monaco.
The ceremony was conducted at the Grimaldi Forum by football legends Zlatan Ibrahimović and Kaká.
The format will see 36 teams each play eight matches, four home and four away against different opponents. The top eight will qualify directly for the last 16, while clubs finishing ninth to 24th will enter play-offs.
Osimhen primed for Istanbul tests
Victor Osimhen and Galatasaray have been handed a daunting schedule. The Turkish champions will host Liverpool, Atletico Madrid, Bodo/Glimt, and Union Saint-Gilloise in Istanbul, while their away trips include Manchester City, Eintracht Frankfurt, Ajax, and Monaco.
Victor Osimhen celebrates after scoring for Turkish giants Galatasaray. Photo credit: Getty Images
Lookman and Atalanta face heavyweights
Ademola Lookman, if he remains at Atalanta, could line up against Chelsea, Club Brugge, Sparta Prague, and Athletic Bilbao in Bergamo.
Away fixtures bring even tougher challenges, with Paris Saint-Germain, Frankfurt, Marseille, and Union Saint-Gilloise awaiting.
Boniface and Tella braced for PSG showdown
Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian duo, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, will host Paris Saint-Germain, Villarreal, PSV Eindhoven, and Newcastle United.
Their travels include Manchester City, Benfica, Olympiacos, and Copenhagen.
Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface (Photo credit: Getty images)
Onyedika, Ogbu, Moses and Onyemaechi eye impact
Raphael Onyedika’s Club Brugge will welcome Barcelona, Arsenal, Marseille, and Monaco, while also facing Bayern Munich, Atalanta, Sporting Lisbon, and Kairat Almaty away.
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Igoh Ogbu and David Moses’ Slavia Prague are paired with Barcelona, Arsenal, Bodo/Glimt, and Athletic Bilbao at home, while visiting Inter Milan, Atalanta, Tottenham, and Pafos.
Slavia Prague defender Igor Ogbu. (Photo credit: Getty Images)
Bruno Onyemaechi’s Olympiacos will host Real Madrid, Leverkusen, PSV, and Pafos in Greece, with away matches against Barcelona, Arsenal, Ajax, and debutants Kairat Almaty.
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The league phase kicks off between 16-18 September. Further rounds are scheduled for 30 September-1 October, 21-22 October, 4-5 November, 25-26 November, and 9-10 December.
The final two rounds will be played in January, culminating with all 36 clubs in action on 28 January 2026.
