As Nigeria gears up for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), midfielder Frank Onyeka expresses confidence in the national team’s abundant talent, aiming for their first triumph in the tournament since 2013. The AFCON kicks off on January 9, and expectations are high for the Super Eagles, who boast a roster of European-based stars.
Among these stars, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen stands out as one of the world’s premier strikers, complemented by the impressive performances of Victor Boniface and Taiwo Awoniyi in Germany and England, respectively.
Onyeka, a key figure at Brentford, anticipates his role as Nigeria faces Lesotho in a pre-tournament fixture this afternoon, followed by a clash with Zimbabwe on Sunday. These matches serve as the final preparations before their AFCON opener against Equatorial Guinea on January 14.
In a statement to LiveScore, Onyeka exudes confidence in Nigeria’s chances, stating, “I think we have a good team that can go and do it. Most of the other countries, they are scared of Nigeria.” He emphasizes the strength of the squad, pointing to the success of players like Osimhen, Boniface, and Awoniyi in top European leagues.
“We have plenty of past players who have done well for Nigeria, but now for us as players, we need to focus on ourselves and as a team to do what we need to do to make our nation proud,” Onyeka adds.
The pressure is palpable for the Nigerian team, given the nation’s football fervor and the disappointment of missing out on AFCON in 2015 and 2017, along with a last-16 exit in 2021. However, Onyeka sees this pressure as a motivating factor, acknowledging the expectations of a football-crazy nation with a population of approximately 200 million.
“There’s always pressure for us. But it’s good because you can see the country, they all watch football and they want us to do it. So that’s a good thing for us and motivation to do our best,” concludes Onyeka, ready to represent Nigeria on the continental stage with determination and pride.
