Samuel Chukwueze and George Irenikena etched their names in Nigerian football history as the UEFA Champions League group stage came to a thrilling conclusion on Wednesday night, Soccernet.ng reported.
Chukwueze’s late winner gave AC Milan a stunning 2-1 come-from-behind victory over Newcastle, while Irenikena scored in stoppage time to give Antwerp a 3-2 victory over Barcelona.
It is likely to be the last goal scored by a Nigerian player in the traditional Champions League group stage as the competition undergoes a transformation in 2024.
Farewell to the group stage format
From 2024, the Champions League will bid farewell to the familiar group phase format in favor of a dynamic league format.
36 Clubs are no longer limited to four groups and can now participate in a single league match.
According to UEFA, this revised structure will improve competitiveness as teams will play eight different opponents and matches will be split into home and away.
Unlocking the New League format
The upcoming changes, which will come into force from the 2024/25 season, will bring a new perspective to European football.
Away from the group stage allows more participants to participate, leading to intense matches and early clashes between the top teams.
Eligibility will continue to be determined on a performance basis, combining a club’s previous performance in the domestic league with the association club’s coefficient ranking.
There will be drama in the finals, with the top eight teams in the league automatically securing a spot in the Round of 16.
Teams from 9th to 24th place will participate in the final tournament, and the competition will be fierce. The synergy between league matches and knockout matches makes every match important and fans can enjoy the excitement for a long time leading up to the final.
The winds of change are not only affecting the Champions League, but also the Europa League and the renamed UEFA Conference League. Both competitions are based on a similar league format, expanding the reach of clubs and improving the football experience across Europe.
Legacy of Nigerians in the previous format
When considering the history of Nigerian players in the Champions League, Daniel Amokachi’s name resonates through time.
He scored his first goal on his debut in the group stage in 1992, helping Club Brugge to a 1-0 victory against CSKA Moscow.
Obafemi Martins tops Nigeria’s top scorer list with nine goals in the competition, closely followed by Victor Osimhen (eight goals) and Victor Ikpeba (seven goals).
