Frank Onyeka has praised Victor Osimhen as a player “on another level,” predicting that defenders at the 2025 AFCON will feel the pressure of marking Nigeria’s star striker.
Both Onyeka and Osimhen are set to feature for the Super Eagles as they aim to bounce back from their 2023 Afcon final defeat to hosts Ivory Coast, a match in which both started.
Osimhen, 26, scored just once in that tournament but has since climbed to second on Nigeria’s all-time goalscoring list, netting 31 goals in 45 appearances, trailing only the legendary Rashidi Yekini.
“He’s such an amazing player,” Onyeka told BBC Sport Africa when asked if Osimhen’s reputation gives Nigeria a psychological edge. “He’s a guy who wants to fight for every single ball I think the defenders are scared of him. Victor is on another level.”
The Super Eagles struggled in Osimhen’s absence during the 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, managing only four points from a possible 15. The team also appeared to lose momentum in the World Cup play-off against DR Congo after the Galatasaray striker was forced off at half-time.
“Missing Victor going into the second half, [it] changed a bit,” Onyeka admitted. “Even one of the players from Congo said the same. When Victor left, it gave the defenders a bit of rest, and then they could relax a bit.”
While Onyeka has been a consistent presence for Nigeria, his club career has been more challenging. The 27-year-old midfielder has yet to start a Premier League match this season under Brentford manager Keith Andrews and spent last season on loan at Augsburg in Germany.
During his time in Germany, Onyeka focused on mindfulness and mental preparation. “It’s good because if you’re stressed, you just try to be calm and relaxed as much as possible,” he explained. “I try to do that every day, but most times I do it before games, just to prepare myself. I do it in my room before I go to the stadium, and after the first half, I try to do a bit. I just focus on my breathing to make sure that I feel settled.”
Although he didn’t score in 34 appearances for Augsburg, Onyeka’s goals for Nigeria were crucial. He netted a 91st-minute strike against Benin to secure a World Cup play-off spot and scored again in the defeat to DR Congo.
“I’ve been looking to get goals into my profile,” Onyeka said. “In my time in Augsburg, it was something that I discussed a lot. I always want to go forward, and I want to score goals. It’s sad that we didn’t qualify for the next World Cup, with the talent that we have. It’s a motivation for us to go into Afcon and win it and bring it back home.”
