The UEFA Europa Conference League returned to the screens on Thursday evening with as many as four Nigerian footballers involved as the Turkish side shared the spoils with their Georgian hosts

Leke James came off the bench to help Sivasspor battle out a fine 1-1 draw with Dinamo Batumi at the Batumi Arena in the first leg of their Europa Conference League knockout round clash.

Lagos-born midfielder Benjamin Teidi saw action from start to finish for Dinamo Batumi. At the same time, the Nigerian duo of Azubuike Okechukwu and Olanrewaju Kayode was named in the starting lineup for the Turkish giants.

It was, however, Georgian midfielder Vladimer Mamuchashvili who drew first blood for the home side within the opening ten minutes of the second period.

But Sivasspor manager Riza Çalımbay made his move four minutes later, sending in new signing James for Malian forward Moustapha Yatabare.

And the former Molde striker made his impact felt just over a quarter of an hour later when he equalised to earn a crucial draw for the visitors ahead of the return leg in Sivas next week.