Super Eagles defender Chidozie Awaziem heaped praise on his teammate Frank Onyeka following the latter’s impressive performance in Nigeria’s 3-2 victory over Tunisia on Saturday, SportPremi reports.
Onyeka was one of the two tactical changes made to the lineup by head coach Eric Chelle and the midfielder delivered a superb performance to help his side to victory.
The 27-year-old came into the team for Samuel Chukwueze, allowing the team to switch from the preferred 4-4-2 setup to a 4-3-3 formation, easily unsettling the North Africans.
The Brentford midfielder started for the Super Eagles in their final defeat to Ivory Coast in 2023 and once again proved his class on the big stage with a commanding performance alongside Wilfried Ndidi and Alex Iwobi in midfield.
His tireless runs and relentless pressing helped Nigeria overrun the Tunisian midfield for the 79 minutes he spent on the pitch.
The three-time African champions recorded a 3-2 victory at full time, sealing their spot in the round of 16 of the ongoing competition.
Osimhen, Ndidi and Lookman scored for the Super Eagles, while Montassar Talbi and and Ali Abdi scored for the Carthage Eagles in an entertaining affair.
Awaziem hails ‘exceptional’ Onyeka
Chidozie Awaziem who came on in stoppage-time as Nigeria aimed to ease pressure from Tunisia, hailed the performance of Frank Onyeka in the win.
According to the Nantes defender, the Brentford midfielder was an exceptional addition to the team that secured an impressive win against the North Africans.
“Exceptional. I mean, we all know that Frank [Onyeka] is an exceptional player, so, he did all he had to [do] to help the team, and I think he came out well because he was pretty, really, really good in the midfield”, Awaziem revealed.
“He recovered a lot of balls. He distributed very good, and, I mean, not just him but the team, but yeah, I mean he played a huge role in the victory.”
On Nigeria’s chances at the AFCON
“I mean, it shows that we’re collective, we work hard, and it shows that the quality of the players individually and as a team. So I think, everyone just do their best and, just try to make, the team win”, the defender added.
“I think that’s the most important for the team first before individual performance, but I think with the qualities everyone has, I think this team can go really far.”
Nigeria will conclude group C action at the African Cup of Nations in Morocco next Tuesday, eyeing a victory to finish top of their group.
The Super Eagles will return to the Fez Stadium for the clash and will be hoping to make it three consecutive wins at the stadium.
