Arsenal Add Two Nigerian Defenders To UEFA Europa League Squad Pre-Benfica

Published: February 15, 2021

Premier League club Arsenal have submitted their updated Europa League List B to UEFA ahead of their upcoming game against Portuguese giants Benfica.

Manager Mikel Arteta has added left-back Tolaji Bola and exciting central defender Zachariah Awe to the group.

The two young players of Nigerian descent are eligible to be registered on List B as they were born after 1 January 1999 and have been on the books of Arsenal for any uninterrupted period of two years since their 15th birthday.

While Awe joined the Gunners at U8 level after he was snatched from under the noses of Crystal Palace, Bola began his Arsenal career at U9 level.

Bola, 21, has been added to the roster after returning from a loan spell at League One club Rochdale, where he spent the first half of the season.

Bola and Awe have been allocated the number 39 and 79 respectively for the knockout rounds of the Europa League.

As previously reported, Miguel Azeez, Folarin Balogun, Arthur Okonkwo and Ryan Alebiosu have been included on Arsenal's List B.

The first leg of the Europa League game between Arsenal and Benfica will hold at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome on February 18 and the second leg will be staged at Stadio Georgios Karaiskakis in Athens on February 25.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : arsenal.com

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