Onyeka Warns Super Eagles To Avoid Complacency In AFCON Qualifiers
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria midfielder, Frank Onyeka has pleaded with his teammates to approach the 2027 Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers with winning mentality in order to avoid the agonizing fate of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The Super Eagles will open their Group L campaign at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on Friday against Madagascar and facing Guinea Bissau in Moroccan on Tuesday, September 29.
Onyeka said the players are aware of how important to start the qualifiers with a win and he assures that his teammates won’t underestimate their opponent.
“So, I guess we’ll take every game as it comes, but for us, we want to win this game, especially when we’re playing on our own ground. We don’t underestimate anything,” Onyeka said.
The Brentford midfielder stated that Nigeria’s attention is firmly on producing a strong performance rather than dwelling on the opposition, saying the Super Eagles immediate objective is to play well and secure the maximum points.
“We focus only on ourselves. We don’t focus on the opponent. We have to play well to win. That’s what we’re focusing on: to play well and win.”
The midfielder emphasized that Nigeria must approach every game in the qualifying campaign with positive and optimistic mentality.
“Just like every other match that we’ll be playing, we have to win every game.”
The Madagascar clash also offers the Super Eagles an opportunity to turn the page after their failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s absence from the tournament remains a disappointment, but Onyeka believes the team must now redirect its energy towards securing a place at next year’s continental showpiece.
“I know we’re quite disappointed not to qualify for the World Cup, but now we’re back. We have something to prepare for, which is the AFCON next year.”
With the disappointment of the World Cup qualification campaign behind them, the Super Eagles will be looking to make a positive start in Uyo and lay an early foundation for their bid to return to the Africa Cup of Nations.
