• The curtain fell on the group stage of the UEFA Europa League and the Europa Conference League on Thursday.
• Here is the summary of the Nigerians who made it to the knockout rounds of the competitions.

EUROPA LEAGUE

Chuba Akpom scored in the 5th and the 56th minutes to fire Ajax Amsterdam to a [3-1] win over visiting AEK Athens in their Europa League matchday six clash.

Ajax, with the win, finished in third place in Group B behind Brighton and Marseille and dropped to the Europa Conference League playoffs.

Cyriel Dessers assisted Glasgow Rangers' first goal and scored a stunning second to inspire the Scottish giants to a thrilling [2-3] victory at Real Betis.

The win catapulted Rangers from third to first in Group C, pushing Betis down to the UEFA Conference League play-offs.

Victor Olatunji featured for the last 12 minutes as Sparta Prague claimed a [1-3] away win against Aris Limassol to qualify for the knockout rounds alongside Rangers.

Ademola Lookman was not included in Atalanta's matchday squad, but the Italians did not need his help in soaring to a [0-4] victory at Rakow Czestochowa to finish top of Group D ahead of runners-up Sporting Lisbon.

Igoh Ogbu was resolute in defence, while Muhamed Tijani was a second-half substitute as Slavia Prague cruised to a [4-0] win over Servette to emerge as Group G winners ahead of AS Roma.

Bayer Leverkusen were the night's biggest winners as the German Bundesliga campaigners secured a [5-1] win over Molde. Nathan Tella assisted his side's last goal as Xabi Alonso's men became the only team to win all of their six group games.

EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

Gift Orban and Jordan Torunarigha both featured for KAA Gent in their humbling [2-0] loss to Maccabi Tel Aviv in their Europa Conference League matchday six meeting.

The defeat helped the Israeli club overtake Gent at the top of Group B and pushed the Belgians to the playoffs.

Raphael Onyedika entered the pitch on the hour mark to help Club Brugge seal their fifth win in six games with a commanding [3-1] win over Bodø/Glimt.

With the victory, Brugge sealed the top spot in Group D and headed straight to the Round of 16, while runners-up Bodø/Glimt settled for a playoff spot.

Yira Sor was in action for ten-man KRC Genk as they carved out a fine [2-0] victory against Cukaricki.

The victory was, however, only good enough for the Genk to finish third in Group F behind leaders Fiorentina and Anderson Esiti's Ferencváros after both teams played out a [1-1] draw in Budapest.

In Group G, William Troost-Ekong was on the pitch from start to finish as PAOK powered to a [4-2] win over HJK to end their group stage campaign without a defeat.

PAOK's record of five wins and a draw was good enough to make them group winners ahead of second place Eintracht Frankfurt, who stumbled to a [2-0] loss at Aberdeen.

Bright Osayi-Samuel played 63 minutes for Fenerbahce as they handed a [4-0] defeat to Philip Azango's Spartak Trnava inside the Ülker Stadyumu Fenerbahçe Şükrü Saracoğlu Spor Kompleksi in İstanbul.

The huge win was crucial as it helped the Turkish giants top Group H on goal difference ahead of Ludogorets, who managed a [1-0] win against third-place Nordsjælland.