Frank Onyeka was in action for Augsburg who extended their unbeaten run thanks to a 1-0 home win against Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
Augsburg have now gone five straight games without defeat, recording three wins and two draws.
Onyeka, who played for 90 minutes, featured in his 23rd league appearance in his loan move to Augsburg this season.
Philip Tietz 53rd minute goal was enough to give Augsburg all the three points.
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Augsburg move up to nineth place on 38 points, courtesy of the win against Wolfsburg.
Onyeka was overlooked for selection in Super Eagles final 23-man squad for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
The midfielder was initially in the 39-man provisional squad that was released.
By James Agberebi
9 Comments
I’m yet to come to terms as to why this guy is excluded from the upcoming games. Did this coach watch the AFCON tapes at all?. He’s our most dependable DM for now, not even Ndidi, based on current form, can stand him. It is well o.
My gripe against Frank Onyeka is that he is not disruptive enough to be a defensive midfielder and not precise enough in front of goal to be an attacking midfielder.
Where he excels is the middle of the park as a centre midfielder. Who knows, maybe Coach Eric Chelle requires a skill set that Onyeka lacks.
We will get to know on Friday.
I like Onyeka a lot but I won’t miss his services to be honest. He is supremely dedicated and a hardworking player – attitudes that have endeared him to many fans.
However all the midfielders invited possess respectable work ethics.
I am particularly happy to see return of Aribo who is a better passer of the ball and who can be better trusted to find the back of the net when push comes to shove.
@Deo, top of the morning to you
What do you have to say about Papa Daniel who hasn’t kicked a ball in anger for some weeks now?
Also recall he failed to secure a contract at a lowly second division Clubside in Turkey as well as with Karvina in lowly Czech Republic
Curious also why Osho was left out
Thank you
Ah, my good friend @Deo, I respect your football opinions, but on this one, my brother, I disagree with you spectacularly!
Have you been watching this guy of latel? I’m not sure. Let’ me even start with your opening claim that Frank Onyeka is not disruptive enough to be a defensive midfielder and not precise enough to be an attacking midfielder. Are you kidding me? Are you talking about the same Onyeka who, as recently as yesterday for Augsburg against Wolfsburg, put up a midfield masterclass?
Okay. In case you missed out on this, let me disrupt your argument a bit with some cold, hard facts from yesterday’s game.
4 dribbles completed (100% success rate) – the highest in the entire match. Not one, not two, but four successful dribbles. If that’s not disruptive, then I don’t know what is.
10 duels won – the highest on the pitch. How often do you see the player win 10 duels in a single match? That means he dominated the midfield like a landlord chasing squatters out of his house. And that’s what he does every week on the average since he moved to Germany
Most fouled player – When you’re getting hacked down that much, it means the opposition fears you. They know letting you operate freely is a recipe for disaster. Aren’t we going to need that against Rwanda and Zimbabwe?
87% pass accuracy, 4 passes into the final third, 1 key pass, 1 chance created – and you said he’s not precise enough in attack? Haba , Oremi. Simply put, these stats scream CONTROL, PRECISION, and IMPACT. Tell me a Nigerian midfielder with a better stats last weekend or even before.
Defensive solidity: 2 tackles, 1 block, 2 interceptions, and 4 recoveries – So, he’s winning duels, progressing play, AND locking down defensively. What exactly are we looking for in a midfielder again? To add a goalkeeping role to his role , because that’s the only things left now for him to assume in the field of play.
And yet, Onyeka doesn’t make the Super Eagles squad, but Papa Daniel, a local player who hasn’t kicked a ball in five weeks, does? How do you justify this for crying out loud? Excuse me, is inactivity now a tactical requirement for World Cup qualifiers? Are we rewarding players for how well they can rest? If so, please , I have a couple of retired uncles who would love a call-up!
Look, @Deo, I get it. You are ever the diplomat! Always humane, non-controversial, conservative, and neutral in your takes—like a referee who doesn’t want to book anyone, even after a two-footed tackle. Your approach is admirable, no doubt. But some situations don’t call for handshakes and mild rebukes—they require a firm, uncompromising stance. This is one of those moments.
When a player like Onyeka, who is actively dominating in a top league, is ignored for a local player who hasn’t even kicked a ball in five weeks, neutrality becomes enabling.
When baffling selections threaten our World Cup chances, diplomacy takes a back seat.
So, my dear , on this one, you took a shot, but it went into Row Z. Frank Onyeka is not only a better option than most of the midfielders called up—he is a necessity at the moment for a Super Eagles squad heading into crucial World Cup qualifiers. Anything less is football injustice.
@deo, my personal person, happy new year. I think onyeka value is still very much important to us, what ever tikitaka chelle is planning is not far different from what Morocco Angola and even his Mali brought to this last afcon and all three was eliminated in the quarter finals, that is to say Africa football his well beyond that level of tactics, you need some Mad Men in the pitch, to do that chop well, comot for road, I remember in Lagos we call it kuronbeh, kind of football where power and strong mind set comes to play, onyeka is far better DM than all other men in the team, his ability to anticipate and intersect opponents passes is galanticos, and can still stay away from injury and red cards, let’s even agree that he doesn’t make the starting lineup, but a wise coach will have him on the bench, to come in and lock games when we have taken the lead. Ok what if Ndidi or Rafael get injured even as minor as groin, will he keep them on the pitch, onyeka is a great option not just an ordinary one, we all saw how serria Leone came back from 4 goal lead to draw the super eagles in ogbemudia stadium in benin, our boys are not predictable you and I know that. Tough away games that we won in Cape Verde and guinea bissau where all mastered by onyeka ruggedity, go and review those games, you will see what I am talking about, onyedika is still a boy and can never tie the lace of onyeka, at list not now, onyeka na bross forget his football age, that guy is older and more experienced than Ndidi if you use palmwine watch face you will see what I am seeing.
Papa Daniel is a great talent..!
Good morning Father JP,
The case of Papa Daniel is a curious one .
It would appear, if we are to believe what we read in newspapers, that Coach Chelle was impressed with the skills and capabilities of Papa Daniel after seeing him play for the homebase Super Eagles.
Rather counterintuitively the coach might also see the fact that Papa Daniel has been going on trials as a positive thing. You see, when a player goes on trails he prepares and project his most valuable tactical attributes to prospective suitors.
Yes, Papa Daniel hasn’t played on field football in a few weeks. But he has kept his competitive edge sharp by auditioning for clubs, making him match fit (mentally).
Just my thoughts though.
It is so sad to see Nigerian fans being taken on a roller coaster. The social engineering deployed by our leaders always works. Eguavoen will come out and say Chelle picked the list and our fans gubble it all up. It was chelle decision to pick alhassan yusuf all the way at MLS? They keep shouting papa daniel but can that dude lace iwuala’s boots? Yet he is not on the team.
It is clear what is going on, the chance of making money from player sales from the local league.He had many trials in unfancied leagues but no one seems interested but they will have you believe he is a world beater. No one will pull a wool over my eyes. I know deceit when I see one. He is in the team to enhance his stock so he can be sold and when that happens, it is unto the next.
The real challenge we have at the NFF is that it is rudderless and devoid of any purpose. In local parlance, we call it ” Anywhere belle face”. Any policy set at the NFF must be one that creates a very strong national team but policies like the insistence on local players serves what objective really? If there are better players plying their trade abroad then why must there be an inclusion of local players to the team?
The purveyors of such ruse hide under mist of deceit that their intentions are for the development of the local league when their true intent is to make money of the sale of players. Sadly, gullible fans will fall for it every time. Watch as Papa or Mama Daniel name drift into oblivion once he secures his transfer. He may never receive a call up again.
PapaFem,
Thanks for your contributions.
You see, Frank Onyeka is a bona fide Super Eagle. The fact he was overlooked on this occasion doesn’t foreclose his future chances of invitation.
I thank you for the detailed tactical breakdown of Onyeka’s recent performance for his club. My perception of his capabilities are limited to the games I saw him play for the Super Eagles.
Those who have seen Papa Daniel play say he is still sharp physically and mentally despite spending recent weeks on trials.
Why not wait to see how the midfield of the Super Eagles hold up in these matches in the absence of Onyeka before passing judgement?