The draw for the UEFA Europa League play-off round has been completed, setting up intriguing clashes for Nigerian internationals Ola Aina and Kelechi Iheanacho as their respective clubs battle for spots in the last 16.
Nottingham Forest, featuring defender Ola Aina, have been drawn against Turkish giants Fenerbahçe in what promises to be a challenging tie. The Premier League side will need to navigate past the Istanbul-based club to secure their place in the next round of the competition.
Meanwhile, Celtic, where Nigerian forward Kelechi Iheanacho plies his trade, will face German Bundesliga side Stuttgart. The Scottish champions will be looking to advance past their German opponents to continue their European campaign.
The play-off round represents a crucial stage in the Europa League, with teams competing for the remaining spots in the Round of 16. Winners from these two-legged ties will progress to join the sides that secured automatic qualification from the league phase.
Both matches will be played over two legs, with the exact dates and kick-off times to be confirmed by UEFA. The fixtures offer both Nigerian players significant opportunities to showcase their talents on the European stage as their clubs aim to extend their continental runs.
Forest and Celtic will be hoping their Nigerian stars can play key roles in helping them overcome their respective opponents and advance to the knockout stages of the competition.
Further details regarding the complete play-off draw and match schedules are expected to be announced by UEFA in due course.