Midfielder Frank Onyeka has described striker Victor Osimhen as being “on another level,” saying opposition defenders at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) will be “scared” of the Nigeria forward.

Osimhen, 26, has been in prolific form for the Super Eagles, scoring eight goals in seven appearances in 2025. Onyeka believes his teammate’s talent and reputation provide Nigeria with a psychological edge even before kick-off.

“He’s such an amazing player,” Onyeka told BBC Sport Africa. “For me, I think the defenders are scared of him. Victor is on another level.”

Nigeria Looks to Bounce Back

The Super Eagles enter Afcon determined to make amends for their 2023 Afcon final defeat to hosts Ivory Coast, a match in which both Onyeka and Osimhen started. While Osimhen scored only once in that tournament, he now sits second on Nigeria’s all-time goalscoring list with 31 goals in 45 appearances, trailing only Rashidi Yekini.

Onyeka emphasized Osimhen’s importance, citing examples from Nigeria’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign, where the team earned just four points from 15 when Osimhen was absent. The midfielder noted how opponents in the play-off against DR Congo visibly relaxed after Osimhen left the field at half-time.

“Even one of the players from Congo said the same. When Victor left it gave the defenders a bit of rest and then they can relax a bit,” Onyeka revealed.

Onyeka’s Personal Development

While Onyeka has been an important figure for Nigeria, he has faced challenges at club level. He has struggled to secure a starting spot at Brentford under new manager Keith Andrews and spent the previous season on loan with Augsburg in the Bundesliga. During his time in Germany, he focused on mental preparation and mindfulness, adopting breathing techniques to remain calm before matches.

“It’s good because if you’re stressed, you just try to be calm and relaxed as much as possible,” Onyeka explained. “I try to do that every day, but most times I do it before games, just to prepare myself.”

Onyeka has also been keen to contribute goals for Nigeria, scoring in crucial moments during the World Cup qualifiers, including a 91st-minute strike against Benin to secure a play-off spot and another goal against DR Congo.

“I’ve been looking to get goals into my profile. I always want to go forward, I want to score goals,” he said.

Nigeria’s Coaching and Squad Challenges

Onyeka praised Nigeria’s coach Eric Chelle, who took charge in January and revitalized the squad after a difficult World Cup qualifying campaign. “He’s a loving coach. The way he speaks to the players, he makes fun of the players. It’s just different compared to what we had before,” Onyeka said.

However, Nigeria faces setbacks with the absence of captain William Troost-Ekong, who retired from international duty before the tournament, and promising centre-back Benjamin Frederick, who suffered a knee injury while on loan in Belgium. Onyeka highlighted the impact of losing these key defensive players:

“It’s a big blow for us because Benjamin has integrated himself into the team and everybody loves him. He has done so well in the games that he has played. We expected him to be a very big part going into the tournament.”

The Pressure and Pride of Representing Nigeria

Despite the challenges, Onyeka remains aware of the pride and pressure of playing for Nigeria. He highlighted the importance of the national team to fans back home:

“Playing for Nigeria is a pressure, but we are used to it. Football is something that makes people happy, brings people together. Every time Nigeria is playing, everyone is interested.”

As the Super Eagles prepare for Afcon 2025 in Morocco, Onyeka and Osimhen will be central to Nigeria’s hopes of lifting the trophy and delivering success to a passionate fanbase.