UEFA MO namechecks Chelsea, Ajax Nigeria icons among Africans who've given so much to UCL

Europe's football governing body UEFA brought joy to the faces of passionate Nigerian fans by bringing the UEFA Champions League trophy to the country's capital, Abuja this week.

Taking into account UEFA'S social media channels, Nigeria is among the top four countries when it comes to interaction with UEFA on Facebook, and the essence of having the tour in Nigeria was a wonderful opportunity to reach out to the fans.

UEFA Media Officer Richard Banblufeit noted that Nigerian players have distinguished themselves in the UEFA Champions League and namehecked the likes of Ajax Amsterdam icons Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu and Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel.

The first African player to sign for Chelsea Celestine Babayaro had been the youngest player to feature in the UEFA Champions League, aged 16 years and 85 days when he made his debut for RSC Anderlecht before the record was broken by Borussia Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko (16 years and 18 days).

One record that will surely never be broken belongs to ex-Club Brugge striker Daniel Amokachi, who is the first player in history to score in the Champions League.

On why he is in Nigeria, Banblufeit told reporters including allnigeriasoccer.com : "Africa has given so much to the UEFA Champions League in the past.

"Clarence Seedorf the first time he won the UCL with Ajax in 1995 there were two Nigerians who were part of the team Kanu and Finidi George.

"We've seen so many other African players Celestine Babayaro, John Obi Mikel both from Nigeria, Didier Drogba from Ivory Coast.

"Top African players have lifted the trophy so it's great to have the opportunity to come to Africa, we've been to Mozambique, Ethiopia, Democratic Republic of Congo now in Nigeria to Lagos and Abuja, and give the fans the chance to see the trophy of the greatest club competition in the world".

He added : "Nigeria is a football mad country, it's a country which takes incredible pride in football.

"In the past Nigeria has given so much to the UEFA Champions League, there have been a number of winners who have hailed from Nigeria - the likes of John Obi Mikel.

"Amokachi and Jay-Jay Okocha didn't lift the UEFA Champions League trophy but Amokachi the first ever goalscorer in the UEFA Champions League."

Kanu is Nigeria's top appearance maker in the Champions League with 60 games, while ex-Inter Milan wonderkid Obafemi Martins is the top scoring Nigerian with ten goals.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel