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UEFA Champions League: Ighalo set for Manchester United action

Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo is expected to be in action as Manchester United battle to seal their place in the next phase of the UEFA Champions League Tuesday in Germany.

The Red Devils are playing away to Bundesliga side, RB Leipzig and need to avoid defeat to guarantee passage to the Round of 16.

Ighalo made his Champions League debut in United’s last UCL outing against PSG when he came on as a late substitute for Aaron Wabisakka.

However, with the reported unavailability of Edison Cavani and Anthony Martial for the crunch clash in Germany tonight, the former Nigeria international is expected to feature more prominently against RB Leipzig.

Both United and their hosts go into tonight’s Matchday 6 tie with nine points apiece in Group G, but the English side will pull through with a draw having recorded a 5-0 home win against the German side in their first meeting.

Ighalo scored two goals in five UEFA Europa League appearances for United last season and would desperately be hoping to score in the UCL as he enters into the closing stages of his extended loan stint with the Red Devils.

Apart from Ighalo, a couple of other Nigerian players will be taking the center stage as the group stage matches of the Champions League is set to be concluded.

In Italy, Club Brugge will be banking on the Nigerian duo of Emmanuel Dennis and David Okereke, to fire them into the UEFA Champions League knockout stages.

The Belgian club are on seven points after five matches and need an outright victory against Lazio on nine points to leapfrog the Serie A side and book their first knockout stage spot.

Presently, Zaidu Sanusi with FC Porto is the only Nigerian player already sure of a place in Round 16 but one or two more of his compatriots may also join him in the knockout phase.

The likes of Bayern, Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea have all qualified as their respective group winners, while Porto and Sevilla have finished in second place in the standings.

Group winners will be seeded, while runners-up will be unseeded.

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Olusegun Fayose

Olusegun Sunday Fayose, founder of RovingNaija.com is a Marketing Communication executive with experience in Corporate Communication, Public Relations, Branding and Advertising. He is also a seasoned media professional with roots in print, broadcast and online journalism. Segun, who last managed the Group Corporate Communication function of MultiChoice Nigeria, is upbeat that through responsible, fair, accurate and courageous reporting; and the support of readers, followers and patrons, Nigeria takes a step closer to a regime of accountability, fairness and equity in governance.

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