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Nigeria will be represented by five players at the highly anticipated 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, scheduled to take place in the United States.
UAE Pro League champions Al Ain will feature three Nigerian players in their 23 man squad.
Among them is Hassan Muhammed, an 18 year old backup goalkeeper.
Though yet to feature regularly at senior level, Muhammed has been identified as a rising talent within the club’s ranks.
Joining him is Rilwanu Sarki, a 21 year old forward whose selection comes despite limited action this season.
Sarki played only ten minutes last season, but his performance at the youth level earned him a spot in the squad.
He featured in six matches at the 2023 AFCON, and four matches at the 2023 FIFA U20 World Cup.
The third Nigerian at Al Ain is Joshua Udoh, a promising midfielder who has transitioned from the youth setup to the senior team.
Al Ain are placed in Group G, where they will face Juventus, Manchester City, and Wydad AC.
Another name on the Nigerian roster Onuche Ogbelu, 22, a central midfielder with Espérance de Tunis.​
In the 2024/25 season, Ogbelu had an impressive performance, appearing in 28 matches for the Tunisian team and contributing significantly to their efforts in both domestic and continental competitions.
He recently extended his stay at the club with a two year contract early last week.
Espérance has been drawn into Group D, where they will compete against Chelsea, Flamengo, and LAFC.
FC Porto’s Zaidu Sanusi completes the list.
The left back endured a difficult season due to a serious knee injury that sidelined him for much of the campaign.
Despite concerns about his fitness, Sanusi was included in head coach MartÃn Anselmi’s squad.
FC Porto has been drawn into Group A, where they will go up against Al Ahly, Palmeiras, and Inter Miami.
However, Nigeria ranks fifth among African nations in terms of player representation at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.
Morocco (31) leads the continent, followed by Tunisia (25), Egypt (23), and Mali (8).
