Baptism of fire: Three Nigerian-born players in Antwerp's travelling squad to face Barcelona in UCL 

Three Nigerian-born players will be named in Royal Antwerp's matchday squad for their UEFA Champions League Group H clash against Barcelona at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys on Tuesday, September 19, barring an injury in the final training session. 

Former Barcelona defensive midfielder Mark van Bommel, who now coaches Antwerp, named twenty players in the traveling squad that departed Liege Airport for Barcelona, Spain on Monday. 

Two summer signings in the shape of Lagos-born striker George Ilenikhena and Zaria native Chidera Ejuke were part of the 20-man group that landed in Barcelona this afternoon, and completing the Nigerian players is Kano-born midfielder Alhassan Yusuf

Ilenikhena, Ejuke and Yusuf are yet to make their debuts in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Ejuke and Ilenikhena were non-playing substitutes in both legs of the UEFA Champions League playoffs with AEK Athens last month, while Yusuf came off the bench for the final seven minutes of the away leg against the Greek opponents. 

Antwerp will be facing a Barcelona side who are firing on all cylinders in the new season, having won their last four games in La Liga and scoring twelve goals in the process. 

The five-time European champions have added several high profile players to their ranks including João Cancelo, Oriol Romeu, İlkay Gündoğan and João Félix. 

Igho Kingsley 

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