AFCON: Osimhen ‘on another level,’ defenders’ll be scared

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AFCON: Osimhen ‘on another level,’ defenders’ll be scared – Onyeka

By Daily Sports Nigeria on December 16, 2025

Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has described teammate Victor Osimhen as a player “on another level,” opposition defenders at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will be “scared” of the Nigerian striker.

Onyeka and Osimhen are part of the squad aiming to redeem Nigeria’s image after defeat in the 2023 AFCON final against hosts Ivory Coast, a match both players started. While Osimhen, 26, scored just once in that tournament, he now ranks second on Nigeria’s all-time goalscoring list with 31 goals in 45 appearances, behind only the legendary Rashidi Yekini.

“He’s such an amazing player. 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,” Onyeka told BBC Sport Africa.

The midfielder also emphasized Osimhen’s influence during Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, where the team collected only four points from five games in his absence. Onyeka added that Nigeria’s play-off against DR Congo suffered when the Galatasaray striker was forced off at halftime.

“Missing Victor going into the second half 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 they could relax.”

While Onyeka has played a key role for Nigeria, his club career has faced challenges. He has struggled to break into the starting lineup at Brentford under new manager Keith Andrews and spent the previous season on loan at Augsburg in Germany. During that time, he focused on mental preparation, adopting mindfulness techniques to stay calm and focused.

“It’s good because if you’re stressed, you try to be calm and relaxed as much as possible,” Onyeka explained. “I focus on my breathing to make sure I feel settled before games and even during half-time.”

Although Onyeka did not score for Augsburg in 34 appearances across all competitions, his goals were crucial for Nigeria’s World Cup push, including a 91st-minute winner against Benin and a goal in the defeat to DR Congo.

“I’ve been looking to get goals into my profile,” Onyeka said. “It’s sad that we didn’t qualify for the World Cup, given the talent we have. But it’s motivation for us to go into AFCON and win it and bring it back home.”

Source Punch Ng

Posted December 16, 2025