Super Eagles duo Frank Onyeka and Paul Onuachu have expressed confidence in the squad not been dented by their shock 2-1 loss to Ivory Coast in the Africa Cup of Nations final last Sunday, insisting that the former African champions will get back on track again, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
It was Nigeria’s fifth final defeat at the AFCON following earlier defeats to Cameroon in 1984, 1988 and 2000; Algeria in 1990 and Ivory Coast in 2023.
Nigeria’s second-place finish saw them extend their record as the nation with the most amount of medals at the AFCON to 16 in total.
Onyeka played in all the Eagles’ seven games at the tournament, partnering Alex Iwobi in a double pivot midfield, while Onuachu made four cameo appearances as a substitute.
Reacting to his AFCON silver-winning feat, the Brentford midfielder, who became his club’s first-ever player to play at a major final of an international competition, expressed delight at being given the national award of Member of the Order of the Niger, a flat and a plot of land in Abuja.
“Who could’ve imagined a boy from Benin’s streets would receive the MON honor? Grateful to the President for this recognition. Huge thanks to our coaches, teammates, and especially our supporters who made this journey unforgettable. We’ll be back stronger,” Onyeka wrote on Instagram.
Onuachu, who replaced Sadiq Umar in the Eagles squad after the latter pulled out due to injury, told PUNCH Sports Extra that he is “super thrilled.”
“Words can’t express how I feel about the honour by the federal government, I’m very thrilled by this,” he said.
“As a team, we wanted to win but it is what it is. Football could be cruel sometimes.”
Meanwhile, Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has started negotiations with Southampton over a permanent deal for Onuachu.
According to Turkish outlet Fotospor, the Super Lig side is keen to convert the forward’s loan move into a permanent deal.
Onuachu signed for the club in the summer transfer window following the Saints’ relegation to the Championship.
The 29-year-old joined the club during the January transfer window last year in a deal reportedly worth £18.6m.