Nigerian footballers once again are missing at the big stage as the 2015/16 UEFA competitions gets busier with the round of eight.
This highlights the sudden decline in the quality of footballers exported from the West African nation which was once continental and global powerhouse.
Kelechi Iheanacho, 19, is the only surviving Nigerian in any of Europe’s elite competitions. The youngster was only drafted to Manchester City Champions League squad as a late replacement for the injured Samir Nasri.
He made his debut in the 3-1 away victory at Dynamo Kiev in February but was not listed for the corresponding fixture which ended goalless on Tuesday.
Apart from the teenager, who has racked up an impressive 26 appearances with nine goals in his first season with the Citizens, no other Nigerian will play any part in this season’s quarter-finals.
John Obi Mikel is one of the few Nigerians to have won the Champions League, but the 28-year-old slumped with Chelsea against Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16.
Despite scoring a rare goal at the Parc des Princess, Mikel will have to follow the rest of the competition as a spectator.
Just like Mikel, Alex Iwobi was extraordinary for Arsenal away to Barcelona. The young midfielder shone like a million stars in his first Champions League game at the Camp Nou.
But the 19-year-old crashed out with the Gunners after successive defeats to the defending champions – signalling an abrupt end to a promising run.
“I think he has shown everybody that he is a good player again,” Arsenal coach, Arsene Wenger said about the youngster.
“I personally find him very interesting because of his decision making, his awareness is very interesting.
“He is a boy who, two years ago, not many would have said he [will make it]. You see he develops very well because he’s very clever.”
In the Europa League, Lazio succumbed to an embarrassing 3-0 home defeat to Sparta Prague – a result which meant Eagles midfielder, Ogenyi Onazi, will have to wait till next year for a continental glory.
Lazio, who were 1-0 victors away from home, were stunned by the Czech champions in Italy.
Despite scoring once in four appearances in the competition, Onazi, 23, didn’t feature in any of the games against Spartak.
Imoh Ezekiel also crashed out of the Europa League with Anderlecht following a 1-0 second leg home defeat to Shakhtar Donestk on Thursday.
The Ukrainian champions came into the game with a 3-0 home advantage – an uphill task for Ezekiel and his teammates.
The 22-year-old who has featured seven times for the Belgian champions failed to add to his two strikes in the competition – including a beauty against Tottenham.
