The governing body of football in Europe, UEFA, has confirmed the 24-team rosters for the 2024 European Championship, set to take place from 14 June to 14 July in Germany. Among these squads, seven players of Nigerian descent are poised to make an impact. The tournament will be hosted across ten venues, including Berlin (Olympiastadion Berlin), Cologne (Cologne Stadium), Dortmund (BVB Stadion Dortmund), Düsseldorf (Düsseldorf Arena), Frankfurt (Frankfurt Arena), Gelsenkirchen (Arena AufSchalke), Hamburg (Volksparkstadion Hamburg), Leipzig (Leipzig Stadium), Munich (Allianz Arena), and Stuttgart (Stuttgart Arena).

Here are the seven ‘Nigerian’ players to keep an eye on at the 2024 European Championship, as highlighted by Sportblog247.com:

1. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal/England): The dynamic winger has earned a spot in the Three Lions squad following an exceptional season, where he scored 20 goals and provided 14 assists in 47 appearances. Previously courted by the Nigeria Football Federation, Saka is now a key player for England, with 11 goals in 33 matches for the 1966 world champions.
2. Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace/England): After training with the Super Eagles in 2017 and engaging in talks about representing Nigeria before the 2022 World Cup, Eze has now secured a place in England’s Euro squad, thanks to a breakout season at Crystal Palace.
3. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich/Germany): A standout young talent at the 2022 World Cup, Musiala was eligible to play for Nigeria through his father, as well as England, where he grew up. Despite efforts from former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to recruit him, Musiala chose Germany.
4. Manuel Akanji (Manchester City/Switzerland): Eligible to represent Nigeria through his father, Akanji embraces his Nigerian heritage, often visiting the country. Known for his solid defensive skills, he will be a crucial player for Switzerland.
5. Noah Okafor (AC Milan/Switzerland): Proud of his Nigerian roots, Okafor is set to represent Switzerland in his second major tournament after participating in the 2022 World Cup. The winger has scored two goals in 22 appearances for Switzerland.
6. Michael Folorunsho (Napoli/Italy): Folorunsho had an impressive season on loan at Hellas Verona, scoring five goals from midfield. He recently made his debut for Italy in a 1-0 win against Bosnia-Herzegovina. His versatility allows him to play in various positions.
7. Joshua Zirkzee (Bologna/Netherlands): The Bayern Munich product will become cap-tied to the Netherlands if he makes his senior debut at the Euros. Previously scouted by ex-Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, Zirkzee had a stellar season with 19 goal involvements in 37 games for Bologna.

These players, with their Nigerian heritage, bring additional layers of excitement and cultural connection to the Euro 2024 tournament.

4o