Super Eagles Can Reach New Heights With More Champions League Stars

Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh says the Super Eagles could reach a higher level if more Nigerian players perform consistently in Europe’s top competitions.

Speaking on the Global Football Insights Podcast, Oliseh highlighted Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman as prime examples. Both players are currently competing at the highest level in the UEFA Champions League and are expected to play key roles for their clubs during the knockout stages this season.

“We have two top Nigerian players now doing well in the Champions League. We have Osimhen performing brilliantly, and Lookman is exceptional too,” Oliseh said. “All we need now is for these two to lead the team and for the others to follow, and you will have it.”

He added that the success of Nigerian players in elite club football has a wider impact beyond the national team. “For the Super Eagles to improve, our players must be shining in the Champions League. That is the top level,” he explained. “It brings publicity, more money, more transfers, and people start paying attention to your country. That is the holy grail of club football.”

Osimhen recently won the MVP award in a Champions League playoff match against Juventus, while midfielder Raphael Onyedika impressed with Club Brugge, despite his side being eliminated by Lookman’s Atlético Madrid in the knockout stage.

Oliseh believes that as more Nigerian players reach the Champions League and other elite competitions, the Super Eagles will become stronger and more competitive on the international stage in the coming years.

This focus on European performance, he insists, is key to lifting Nigeria’s national team to new heights.