Nigerians To Watch As Uefa Draw Takes Center Stage

The Uefa champions league used to be the haven of Nigerian players in years past, but the reverse is the case in recent times as few Nigerians feature in Europe elite club competition. 

As the draw for the Uefa champions league and Europa league takes place today, we look at the Nigerian stars to watch out for in this years competition.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

John Obi Mikel- Chelsea Fc (England)

Currently Nigeria's most decorated player, the midfielder has paid his dues when it comes to European football having won both the Uefa champions league and Europa league with Chelsea.

The Nigerian will be inspired after scoring his first ever champions league goal in Chelsea's 3-1 victory over Sporting Lisbon in their last group game against in stamford bridge. 

Chelsea are amongst the seeded teams for the draw after qualifying as group winners.

Mikel featured only twice for Chelsea in the group stage, with both appearances coming against Sporting Lisbon, home and away. 

Elderson Echiejele 

-Elderson Echiejele- AS Monaco (France)

His debut season in France was marred by injury and being subjected to bench role with French youngster, Layvin Kurzawa favoured by former coach, Claudio Ranieri.

This season, his appearances has also been limited, but an injury to the French u21 star has seen him come into prominence at the Municipal club. 

The Nigerian only champions league showing came in Monaco's 1-0 away victory over Bayer Leverkusen on 26 november, 2014. 

Monaco qualified as group leaders ahead of Leverkusen and are seeded for the draw later today. 

-Chinedu Obasi- Schalke 04

It seemed like Obasi was having a new lease of life since ex chelsea boss Roberto Di Matteo took over the helm of affairs at the German club. He even scored a goal in the Italian first Chamions league game at home to Sporting Lisbon and featured in the reverse fixture in Portugal. 

But the Nigerian has now found game time had to come by in recent time due to the Coach's tactics, loss of form and the emergence of Cameroon striker Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting who joined at the summer from Mainz.

His last appearance for the club was on november 8, in Schalke's 0-2 loss to Freiburg. 

The German side qualified as group runners-up to Chelsea..
Schalke are unseeded for the latter stages,  meaning they will most likely play the top dogs in the competition. 

Meanwhile in the europa league, Nigerians to watch out for includes:

Ikechukwu Uche-Villarreal(Spain) Unseeded

Efe Ambrose- Celtic(Scotland) Unseeded

Haruna Lukman- Dynamo Kyiv(Ukraine) Seeded

Joel Obi- Internazionale( Italy) Seeded

Micheal Olaitan- Olympiacos(Greece) Seeded

The draw takes place today in Nyon, Switzerland with the games scheduled for february next year.