FRANK Onyeka has called Victor Osimhen "at a high level" and thinks the defenders from other teams at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) are "afraid" of the Nigerian forward.
Reuters
Onyeka and Osimhen are both part of the Super Eagles squad, aiming to win after they lost the 2023 Afcon final to the host nation, Ivory Coast, where both players played.
Osimhen, who is 26, only scored once in the 2023 tournament, but he is now Nigeria's second-highest goalscorer with 31 goals in 45 matches, behind Rashidi Yekini.
"Onyeka told BBC Sport Africa, "He is a very good player.
He is someone who wants to play every ball. For me, I think defenders are afraid of him. Victor is on another level."
The Super Eagles only got four points out of 15 when Osimhen wasn't playing during their 2026 World Cup qualifiers and failed to qualify.
They also struggled in their World Cup qualifier against DR Congo when Osimhen was taken off at half-time.
"Missing Victor towards the second half, it changed things," Onyeka admitted.