BY MONICA IHEAKAM
NIGERIAN players whose clubs are involved in the UEFA Champions League, failed to earn a place in the breakthrough squad as released by the Europe football governing body.
UEFA, selected the eleven most outstanding players for each position who have broken through in 2016, leaving out the likes of Manchester City striker, Kelechi Iheanacho and compatriot Alex Iwobi of Arsenal.
Other Nigerian players not named in the list includes Ahmed Musa (Leicester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur) and David Alaba (Bayern Munich) and Josh Onomah
(Tottenham Hotspur).
The UEFA Champions League breakthrough team coached by French man and Real Madrid tactician Zinédine Zidane , has Borussia Dortmund’s forward Ousmane Dembélé and goal- keeper Alphonse Areola of Paris Saint-German in the list.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE BREAKTHROUGH TEAM
Goalkeeper: Alphonse Aréola (Paris Saint-Germain)
Defender: Sergi Roberto (Barcelona)
Defender: Samuel Umtiti (Barcelona)
Defender: Victor Lindelöf (Benfica)
Midfielder: Thomas Lemar (Monaco)
Midfielder: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern München)
Midfielder: Renato Sanches (Bayern München)
Midfielder: Raphaël Guerriero (Borussia Dortmund)
Forward: Christian Pulišić (Borussia Dortmund)
Forward: André Silva (Porto)
Forward: Ousmane Dembélé (Borussia Dortmund)
Coach: Zinédine Zidane (Real Madrid)