Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen will be hoping to begin his Champions League campaign on a brilliant note as Lille travels to Amsterdam to play Ajax on Tuesday at the Johan Cruijff Arena.
The Nigerian international has been in a great goal scoring form for his French club in the wake of netting against Angers in the Ligue 1, to become the first player to score five goals in his first five French top-flight trips.
However, his attention will be moved to Tuesday’s UCL clash against Eredivisie Champions that made the last four of the UEFA Champions League last season, with the expectation to proceed with his goal-scoring form.
A trip to the Johan Cruyff Arena is an overwhelming path for Lille to make their Champions League return, having not featured in the competition since 2012-13.
“We feel so good. We have some very strong individuals but above all, we have a team,” Osimhen told Ligue 1 website.
“We are going to play a big club today, they will be difficult, but we have what it takes to win. We are going to win.”
Osimhen said he is delighted that the hard work he has put in has paid off.
“I have been working hard for the past three years. I have had setbacks in my career in the past, but this shows that hard work pays,” he said.
However, it is surely a stage up from their last European foray – a loss to Qabala of Azerbaijan in the third qualifying stage of the 2016-17 Europa League – and also they have needed to adapt to the departure of their star player Nicolas Pepe.
Christophe Galtier’s side have switched back and forth among wins and loss in their opening five Ligue 1 games this campaign to sit fifth in the table, but they do come into this match off the back of a triumph over Angers on Friday night.
In Holland, Ajax demonstrated their champion class at the weekend as the Sons of the Gods whipped SC Heerenveen 4-1 at the Johan Cruyff Arena.
Erik ten Hag’s side are unbeaten in 10 matches in all competition since the start of the season, rapidly ascending back to the top of the Eredivisie table in the wake of claiming their first title since 2014 last season.
