FC Porto defender, Chidozie Awaziem is Nigeria’s remaining lone flag bearer in the UEFA Champions League this season, following the group stage elimination of all others.
Footballlive.ng gathered that Awaziem, who played as an 81st minute substitute in FC Porto’s 3-2 win away to Galatasaray of Trukey this past Tuesday, is the only Super Eagles player left in the race.
While Nigerian-born youngster, Lukas Nmecha could still get a look-in with Manchester City, Dele Alli with Tottenham Hotspur and Dominic Solanke with Liverpool, they are committed to international careers with England, the country of their birth.
Same applies to a number of emerging youngsters registered as fringe players with Manchester United, Ajax Amsterdam, Real Madrid, Roma and Borussia Dortmund, as they head into the draw on Monday. Awaziem will now be the ‘real’ Nigerian to look up to for exploits in the European elite clubs’ money-spinning competition, when the knock-out stage commences in February.
The former FC Nantes of France stopper will now join his Porto pals and players in the other 15 qualified teams, waiting to know their opponents in the knock out stage, when the draw holds in Nyon, Switzerland.
Group winners, Borussia Dortmund, Barcelona, FC Porto, Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Juventus and Real Madrid, will be in Pot 1.
The runners-up, Atletico Madrid, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Schalke, Ajax, Olympique Lyon, Roma and Manchester United will be in another.
Clubs from the same country will not face each other and teams from the same group will not clash.
