Nine Nigeria internationals are set to take centre stage as the 2026/27 UEFA Women’s Champions League league phase gets underway on Tuesday, with Nigerian stars representing some of Europe’s leading clubs.  

The second edition of the 18-team league-phase format begins on September 22, with the opening round of matches spread across Tuesday and Wednesday. The league phase will run through December before the knockout rounds begin in February 2027.  

Among the Nigerians attracting attention are Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, who are both registered with Paris Saint-Germain.

PSG begin their campaign away to Real Madrid on Tuesday, with Ajibade and Echegini part of a squad looking to make an impact against one of the established sides in the competition.  

Ajibade was an important figure in PSG’s qualification for the league phase, while Echegini adds further Nigerian quality to the French club’s midfield options.

Another major Nigerian presence will come at Benfica, where defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and forward pair Janet Akekoromowei and Flourish Sabastine are part of the Portuguese champions’ squad.

Benfica travel to Italy to face Juventus in their opening league-phase fixture on Tuesday. UEFA’s confirmed squad list includes Akekoromowei, Demehin and Sabastine, while Akekoromowei is also listed by UEFA for the Juventus fixture.  

For Akekoromowei, the Champions League represents another significant step in her development after the 18-year-old forward joined Benfica during the summer.  

Joy Omewa and Halimatu Ayinde will also begin her European campaign on Tuesday when Swedish and Europa League champions BK Häcken travel to Italy to face Inter Milan.

Omewa and Ayinde were part of Nigeria’s 2026 WAFCON squad and has previously been involved with the Super Falcons, while Häcken secured their place in the league phase through the qualifying rounds.  

Defender Shukurat Oladipo and forward Rinsola Babajide completes the nine-player Super Falcons group starred in the opening round. The Roma duo is set to feature when the Italian champions visit Belgian side OH Leuven on Wednesday.  

Oladipo and Babajide weee also part of Nigeria’s squad at the 2026 WAFCON, where she featured as the Super Falcons failed to qualify for the Women's World Cup for the first time and retain their continental title.  

The opening fixtures offer the Nigerian players an opportunity to test themselves against some of the strongest clubs in European women’s football, while also providing another platform for the Super Falcons to maintain a strong presence at elite club level.

The Matchday One schedule includes Real Madrid versus PSG, Juventus versus Benfica and Inter Milan versus Häcken on Tuesday, followed by OH Leuven versus Roma on Wednesday.  

For Nigerian followers, particular attention will centre on the performances of Ajibade, Echegini, Demehin, Akekoromowei, Sabastine, Omewa, Ayinde, Babajide and Oladipo as the European campaign gets underway.

With the league phase featuring 18 clubs and six matchdays, the competition will provide the Nigerian contingent with several opportunities to make their mark before the race for the knockout stages intensifies in the new year.