Taiwo included as Riga FC confirm UEFA Champions League squad

UEFA have published Riga FC’s squad for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, with the Latvian champions including Nigerian striker Abdulrahman Taiwo after his return from a loan spell at Slovak side Spartak Trnava.

Head coach Adrian Guľa has named 21 players in his A-list squad. Although UEFA allows clubs to register up to 25 players, Riga FC are unable to fill all available places as four spots are reserved for club-trained players, a category the club currently cannot meet.

Left out of the squad are newly signed Greek goalkeeper Athanasios Papadioudis, who is yet to make his debut for Riga FC, and Brazilian centre-back Abner, who has made just one appearance for the club, playing 17 minutes since his arrival. Injured trio Renārs Varslavāns, Emīls Birka and Anthony Contreras have also not been included.

A place has, however, been found for Spanish attacking midfielder Brian Pena. Despite scoring at least six goals in each of his previous three seasons with Riga FC, the Spaniard has played only four league matches this season, totalling just 29 minutes, and has spent much of the campaign featuring for the club’s reserve side in the Latvian second division.

Also included is Taiwo, who spent last season on loan at Spartak Trnava. The Nigerian scored six goals in 17 appearances for the Slovak club and now returns to Riga FC, where he has recorded 11 goals in 45 appearances since joining the club in the summer of 2023.

Riga FC begin their UEFA Champions League campaign on Tuesday away to Armenian champions Ararat-Armenia.

Source: https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2048626–ararat-armenia-vs-riga/lineups/