Super Eagles and Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka has played down the competition with Raphael Onyedika for spaces in Nigeria’s starting XI, Soccernet.ng reports.
Onyeka was on the bench for Nigeria’s opening AFCON 2025 fixture against Tanzania, but played 79 minutes against Tunisia before suffering an ankle twist.
Eric Chelle opted to take out Wilfred Ndidi and Onyeka ahead of Nigeria’s clash against Uganda, bringing Raphael Onyedika and Fisayo Ayodele-Bashiru into midfield.
The decision yielded fruit for the three-time AFCON winners, as Onyedika scored a brace while Dele-Bashiru set up Paul Onuachu’s first goal.
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Frank Onyeka plays down Raphael Onyedika comparisons
Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle mentioned in yesterday’s post-match presser that the performance of the team he fielded last night will cause him further headaches in the round of sixteen, citing Onyedika’s excellence.
Although Onyeka didn’t play at the Complexe de Fes, he was pleased for his teammate, although maintaining that they play different roles.
“Rival? No! I mean, he’s a midfielder, I’m a midfielder. We play different roles, he’s a defensive midfielder, and I’m more like a central midfielder,” the former Augsburg man told Soccernet.ng.
“He had a great game. We are all happy, and I’m especially happy for him getting two goals. I’m happy for Ryan [Alebiosu] as well.
“He had a good game. Offensively and defensively, he was very strong. He played really well today.
“Unto the next game now, we’re only thinking about ourselves, how we can improve, and not about the opponents,” the 27-year-old concluded.
The Super Eagles will be without Alebiosu for the remainder of the tournament after the Blackburn Rovers full-back suffered a deep cut on his right leg.