Paul Mukairu and Akinkunmi Amoo will be flying Nigeria’s flag in the UEFA Champions League this season after their club FC Copenhagen advanced to the group stages of the competition.
The Danish champions held their hosts Tranzonspor to a 0-0 draw tonight in the second round of their play-off tie to progress 2-1 on aggregate.
Mukairu, the 22-year-old forward, was a 63rd minute substitute for Mohammed Daramy, while Super Eagles star Amoo was an unused substitute.
Both Mukairu and 20-year-old Golden Eaglets 2019 FIFA U-17 World Cup starlet Amoo were unused substitutes in the first leg on Tuesday last week, which Copenhagen won 2-1 at home.
In another Champions League play-off decider tonight, Rangers defeated PSV Eindhoven 1-0 at the Philips Stadion in Eindhoven to advance to the group stages.
It is the first time since 2011 the Scottish side, who reached the final of the Europa League last season, will be playing in the group stages of the elite competition.
Antonio Colak scored the only goal to give the former club of Super Eagles trio Leon Balogun, Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey a 3-2 aggregate victory.
Mukairu and Amoo will be joining other Nigerian stars like Bassey (Ajax), Victor Osimhen (Napoli) and Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto) in the competition.
In the other play-off tie decided tonight, Dinamo Zagreb scored twice in extra-time to win 4-1 and advance 4-2 on aggregate against Bodoe/Glimt.
The group phase draw will be held tomorrow, with 32 clubs placed in eight groups.
