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No Copenhagen regrets for ex-Krasnodar star who rejected Russia for Nigeria’s Super Eagles

Obi Donald
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Despite a challenging spell at FC Copenhagen, Nigerian-Russian forward German Onugkha has no bitterness toward the Danish champions, Soccernet.ng reports.

The former Vejle Boldklub star, who rejoined his former club on loan in January, remains appreciative of his time at Parken despite struggling for playing time.

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The 28-year-old forward, born in Moscow to a Russian mother and a Nigerian father, made just seven appearances for Copenhagen after his summer move, totaling 347 minutes.

No Copenhagen regrets for ex-Krasnodar star German Onugkha who rejected Russia for Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Photo Credit X

While the lack of game time could have frustrated many players, Onugkha insists he remains grateful for the experience.

“For me, it was a fantastic experience to play with such talented players and a very skilled coach. My relationship with them is really good,” Onugkha told Tipsbladet.

“I didn’t play much, but I worked extremely hard every day. That’s crucial when you train with such a talented squad.

“Even though I didn’t get many minutes, I definitely don’t regret signing for FCK. I’ve become an even better player than I was before, despite the lack of game time.”

Onugkha, who was the Danish Superliga’s top scorer last season with 15 goals in 31 matches for Vejle, returned to the club on loan in January for the remainder of the 2024–25 season. His return came after he was left out of Copenhagen’s mid-season training camp in Spain.

While he is now focused on helping Vejle fight for survival, Onugkha will be keeping a close watch on his parent club, who lead the Superliga and are pushing for another league title.

“I’ll be happy if they win the title because I’ve seen how hard they’ve worked as a team. They really want it and deserve it, in my opinion,” he said.

“Now I’m at Vejle for the rest of the season, which is why I refer to FCK as ‘they.’ If I say ‘we,’ I mean Vejle.

“Of course, I’d feel part of it, but I wouldn’t say I’m 100% involved. Other players have played more than me—they’ve fought for it and contributed more. So I wouldn’t say I’d fully have won the championship myself.”

No Copenhagen regrets for ex-Krasnodar star German Onugkha who rejected Russia for Nigeria's Super Eagles. Photo Credit X
No Copenhagen regrets for ex-Krasnodar star German Onugkha who rejected Russia for Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Photo Credit X

Onugkha’s long-term future remains undecided.

He still has a year left on his contract with Copenhagen, but there has been reported interest from Major League Soccer (MLS) clubs. His loan deal with Vejle reportedly includes a purchase option, adding another layer of uncertainty.

“I can’t predict the future. Right now, I’m focused on my time at Vejle. Once that’s over, I still have a year left on my contract with FC Copenhagen, and we’ll see what happens then,” Onugkha said.

“Of course, I’ll keep following their games and cheering them on because they’re my club. I was only there for half a year, but I feel part of them and wish them all the best.”

German Onugkha’s Nigeria allegiance and career path

Onugkha has represented several clubs across Russia, Israel, and Denmark, including spells at Torpedo Tamala, Zenit Penza, Volgar Astrakhan, Krasnodar, and Tambov. He also had loan stints at Krylia Sovetov, Rubin Kazan, and Bnei Sakhnin before moving to Denmark.

Nigeria-Russian star German Onugkha

Born in Russia but eligible for Nigeria through his father, Onugkha confirmed in September 2024 that he was open to representing the Super Eagles after turning down a call-up from the Russian national team.

For now, his priority is helping Vejle secure survival in the Danish top flight, starting with their upcoming match against Silkeborg.

Meanwhile, FC Copenhagen resume their title charge with a clash against Randers on Monday.

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