Three Players of Nigerian Descent Feature As Spurs, Gent Break Europa League Record

Published: February 24, 2017

According to the official website of UEFA, there were 80,465 spectators at Wembley on Thursday night when Tottenham Hotspur clashed with Gent in the Europa League.

That figure is a new record for attendance in Europe’s second most important club competition, beating the previous record of 75,180 that was set last season when Manchester United hosted Liverpool.

Of the top five matches, Manchester United featured in three, the others being their games with Fenerbahçe on October 20, 2016 and Ajax Amsterdam on February 23, 2012.

Nigeria internationals Moses Simon and Anderson Esiti were on parade for Gent at Wembley, while England star of Nigerian heritage Dele Alli was in action for 40 minutes.

Highest attendances in the UEFA Europa League

1. 80,465 – Tottenham Hotspur 2-2 Gent, 23/02/2017, round of 32 second leg
2. 75,180 – Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool, 17/03/2016, round of 16 second leg
3. 73,063 – Manchester United 4-1 Fenerbahçe, 20/10/2016, group stage
4. 67,553 – Dynamo Kyiv 5-2 Everton, 19/03/2015, round of 16 second leg
5. 67,328 – Manchester United 1-2 Ajax, 23/02/2012, round of 32 second leg

Igho Kingsley

Photo Credit : uefa.com