Augsburg midfielder Frank Onyeka says it will be a big disappointment for his talented Super Eagles side if they fail to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, Soccernet.ng exclusively reports.
Nigeria currently sit in fourth place in World Cup qualifying Group C behind South Africa, Benin, and Rwanda but ahead of Lesotho and Zimbabwe in what was expected to be a smooth campaign but has now turned into a nightmare for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finalists.
Onyeka, who played like his life depended on it as the Eagles reached the Afcon final in Abidjan last year, says that the team cannot afford to miss out on the Mundial as it could be the final opportunity for many of the players.
“It means a lot, as a player, this is the biggest tournament, every player wants to be there,” Onyeka told Soccernet.ng at the WWK Arena where his Bundesliga clubside Augsburg play their home matches, during a Bundesliga media tour on Friday.
“We have to do everything to be there. After this period, I don’t know if I will have the chance to play at the World Cup again.
“Imagine having so many good players and you’re not able to participate at the World Cup, it will be a very big loss for us,” he said.
Frank ‘the Tank' – An Afcon hero
Onyeka, 27, currently on loan at Augsburg from Premier League side Brentford, has settled into his new abode.
But he looks back fondly on the Afcon campaign, where he became a national sensation due to his endless running and tackling, which helped Nigeria’s push to the final.
The reaction of the fans and the media thrills him still.
“They called me ‘Tank the warrior, he can chase anybody down’,” he smiled. “It was good. After the Afcon, people knew what I could really do.”
“I went into the Afcon with one goal, to help my team to get to the final. For myself I learned more about myself. What I thought I couldn’t do, I realized I could do it.”
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On missing Eric Chelle’s team
Despite his impressive credentials with both club and country, Onyeka was ignored by new Nigeria coach Eric Sekou Chelle in his first squad announcement for March’s World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
Many Nigerian fans were shocked at his absence from the squad, including this writer.
Onyeka says it is all part of the game as he looks forward to future call-ups.
“Dayo (Enebi), the team secretary, spoke to me and told me that I just need to focus on playing; hopefully in the next call-ups, I will be able to make the team,” he said.
