Samuel Chukwueze will be optimistic of becoming the sixth Nigerian player to win the Europa League when his club, Villareal and Manchester United meet each other in the final on Wednesday.
Former Super Eagles stars such as Nwankwo Kanu, Taribo West, Chidi Odiah, John Obi Mikel and Victor Moses remain the Nigerian quintet to have lifted Europe’s second-tier trophy at club level.
While Kanu, West and Odiah are fully retired from active football, Mikel and Moses are still very much actively involved in the game with both respectively playing for Stoke City in England and Spartak Moscow in Russia.
And ahead of the grand finale of the 2020/21 season Europa League, Complete Sports reporter, Oluyemi Ogunseyin highlights five Nigerian players who have won the competition previously known as the UEFA Cup.
1. Nwankwo Kanu (Inter Milan 1997/1998)
Nwankwo Kanu was a member of the Inter Milan squad that won the UEFA Cup (now Europa League) for the third time for the Italian Serie A giants back in the 1997/1998 Season.
He was team-mates with compatriot, Taribo West in that Inter team. And Papilo became the first Nigerian to win both the UEFA Cup and Champions League following his earlier bigger win with Ajax Amsterdam.
Kanu was an unused substitute as Inter beat Lazio 3-0 at the Parc des Princes on May 6, 1998 with goals from Ivan Zamorano, Javier Zanetti and Ronaldo de Lima.
2. Taribo West (Inter Milan, 1997/1998)
Former Super Eagless central defender, Taribo West was the first Nigerian to win the UEFA Europa League formerly known as the UEFA Cup.
Taribo achieved the historic feat while starring prominently for Italian Serie A side, Inter Milan who went on to beat fellow Serie A club, Lazio 3-0 in the 1998 final played at the Parc des Princes in Paris, France and watched by 44,412 fans.
Taribo made a total of twelve UEFA Cup appearances clocking 1,034 minutes, scoring two goals despite playing as a defender.
3. Chidi Odiah (CSKA Moscow, 2004/2005)
Former Super Eagles right wing-back, Chidi Odiah is the second Nigerian player to win the UEFA Cup now known as the Europa League.
Odiah featured prominently for Russian top side, CSKA Moscow who went on to beat Portuguese side, Sporting CP 3-1 in the 2005 final played at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon, Portugal and watched by 47,085 fans.
Odiah made a total of 16 UEFA Cup appearances, clocking 1,367 minutes and he had one goal to his credit.
4. John Mikel Obi (Chelsea, 2012/2013)
Former Super Eagles captain, John Mikel Obi added the Europa League title to his array of laurels following the triumph with Chelsea.
Mikel who is Nigeria’s second most-decorated player featured prominently as Chelsea recorded a 2-1 win over Portuguese side, Benfica in the 2013 final played at the Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands and watched by 46,163 fans.
Mikel has made nine Europa League appearances, totaling 572 minutes and is the only Nigerian player among the five winners without any goal to his credit.
5. Victor Moses (Chelsea, 2012/2013, 2018/2019)
Former Nigerian international, Victor Moses holds the record as the only Nigerian player to have won the Europa League twice with English Premier League side, Chelsea in the 2012/13 and 2018/19 seasons.
Moses currently on loan at Spartak Moscow in Russia from Chelsea failed in his bid to win his third Europa League title when Inter Milan lost 2-1 to Sevilla in last season’s final at the RheinEnergie Stadium in Cologne, Germany.
The 30-year old wing-back has made a total of 15 appearances in the Europa League, totaling 850 minutes with four goals and one assist to his credit.
By Oluyemi Ogunseyin