Europa League: 3 Nigerian talking points for concluding matchday

Ten of the 32 sides that began this season’s Europa League are through to the knockout rounds of the competition, with four of the teams assured of a place in the round of 16. 

Olympique Lyon, Monaco, Bayer Leverkusen and West Ham United have ended as group winners and will not have to navigate a challenging knockout round against third-placed sides from the Champions League. 

This is a path Joe Aribo, Leon Balogun and Calvin Bassey’s Rangers have to cross to feature in the last 16, having ended second in Group A behind Lyon. 

Thus, the trio have nothing to play for this week as regards qualification. 

Having said that, the final day is not devoid of Nigerian storylines and we have picked out some interesting ones heading into Thursday’s games.

Group C is one of two sections without an assured participant in the next round, with the former still without a qualified side. 

While Victor Osimhen will be absent in this four-way tussle involving Leicester City (eight points), Spartak Moscow, Napoli (both on seven) and Legia Warsaw (six), the pair of Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi travel to Naples needing to avoid defeat to advance in any capacity.

Of course, a win sends them though as group winners, but a draw will leave them at the risk of being supplanted by Victor Moses’ Spartak, who travel to Legia knowing a win will take them through.

The former Chelsea man has been involved in four goals — one goal and three assists — in the group stage and the Russian outfit will hope he is decisive in Poland.

Ndidi is expected to start for Leicester against Napoli, although Iheanacho may have to play the waiting game if Brendan Rodgers continues with a lone-striker formation.

While Olympiacos (nine points) are guaranteed a top two finish, ending in first spot remains a target.

The Greek outfit travel to already eliminated Royal Antwerp looking to secure maximum points, and will hope Bright Osayi-Samuel’s Fenerbahce defeat table-topping Eintracht Frankfurt (11).

A draw in Turkey will not suffice for Henry Onyekuru and his colleagues who have an inferior head-to-head against the Bundesliga outfit—losing both fixtures 2-1 and 3-1.

Onyekuru has featured in five of the group stage games, starting four times, and the wide attacker will be keen to add to his one goal contribution in this year’s competition. 

Without a win since defeating Rapid Vienna 1-0 in the opening game of the group in September, only a win on their turf will suffice to have any chance of advancing in second place.

Paul Onuachu was the match-winner in that slender success and the forward, who has not scored in the competition since September and was dropped for the last continental game against Dinamo Zagreb, will strive to come up trumps against a Rapid side that have lost both away games so far.

The Smurfs’ fate is out of their hands though, and they will need a West Ham win over Dinamo in London, while they also need to take care of business to end runners-up in the group. 

A draw at the London Stadium will not be enough as Genk picked up only a point from a possible six against the Croatian outfit.

---

Seye Omidiora is a passionate football writer and pundit whose deep appreciation for the beautiful game exceeds the usual. He is currently a columnist for Goal Africa and has previously written for Vital Football UK, IBCity Info and Opera News.

-----

Pulse Contributors is an initiative to highlight diverse journalistic voices. Pulse Contributors do not represent the company Pulse and contribute on their own behalf.