John Ogu: Unfortunately, Hapoel Be’er Sheva weren’t able to build on their unlikely Israeli Premier League success last season with a spot in the Champions League after they were eliminated in the playoffs by Celtic.

The Europa League is the consolation prize for Ogu and co., and they should relish high-profile bouts against Internazionale and Southampton as well as a double header against Sparta Prague.

Fred Friday: AZ Alkmaar turned to Nigerian forward Friday as a replacement for Tottenham Hotspur-bound Vincent Janssen, although as yet, the former Lillestrom man hasn’t hit the ground running. He’s yet to find the net in the Eredivisie in five appearances—although he has contributed two assists—and will be desperate to find his scoring boots against Zenit Saint-Petersburg, Dundalk and Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Nosa Igiebor: Across the pitch from Friday when AZ meet Maccabi will be Igiebor, who has dropped into the Europa League after representing the Israeli side in the Champions League last season. The playmaker possesses the quality to stand out at this level and he certainly appears to have the attention of new Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr, having been included in the German technical advisor’s first Super Eagles squad.

Emmanuel Emenike: It was hard to see how Emenike would find a way back to prominence at Fenerbahce after falling out with fans. However, after a move to West Ham United wasn’t made permanent following an underwhelming loan spell, he’s back in Istanbul and will compete with Robin van Persie, Moussa Sow and Caner Koca in d!ck Advocaat’s plans. He scored three goals over two legs in Fener’s ill-fated UCL qualifier against AS Monaco, and if he can bring that form to the group stage, the Super Lig heavyweights will reach the knockout stages.

Moses Simon: No club in the Europa League has as much Nigerian influence as Gent, where Anderson Esiti, Rabiu Ibrahim and Simon will look to help the Belgian side past Shakhtar Donetsk, Sporting Braga and Konyaspor. Expect Simon to steal the attention; he’s already tried his hand in the Champions League and, as a burgeoning member of Nigeria’s ‘New Era’, he could be one of the group stage’s most eye-catching contributors.