I begged Jose Peseiro for playing time – Super Eagles defender reveals key driving force at AFCON 2025

Super Eagles defender Bruno Onyemaechi has revealed that his primary motivation at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2025) is his desire to be a starter for the team, Soccernet.ng reports.

​Onyemaechi is one of the Super Eagles players who has impressed so far at the tournament in Morocco. He has displaced Zaidu Sanusi, who started Nigeria's first match against Tanzania.

​Onyemaechi has proven to be the better option at left-back, as he has defended more effectively and displayed superior technical qualities. He has also been a decent contributor in the final third.

​This is a significant improvement for the 26-year-old Olympiacos man; in his previous games, it was very easy to find flaws in his performances. In fact, leading up to AFCON 2025, Sanusi was expected to be the starter for Nigeria.

​Speaking about his recent improvement in form, Onyemaechi revealed that his main fuel has been the drive to establish himself as a starter for Nigeria.

Bruno Onyemaechi Reveals How He Begged Ex-Super Eagles Coach For Playing Time

Bruno Onyemaechi was at the 2023 AFCON, but he did not kick a ball for Nigeria. He has now revealed how he begged former Super Eagles coach José Peseiro for playing time at AFCON 2023, but the Portuguese coach did not feel he was good enough.

“When a coach gives you opportunity, you need to take it,” Onyemaechi said.

“The last AFCON I was begging for the opportunity, Jose Peseiro didn't give me. Right now I have already learned the experience, to be ready whenever they call me. That's the most important thing, and I give God all the glory for this moment.”

“When a coach gives you opportunity you need to take it” says Bruno Onyemaechi on playing back to back games for the first time for Nigeria at AFCON pic.twitter.com/F6p9U3fWIN

— Cosmos ChukwuEmeka (@Mrcosmos13) January 2, 2026

Interestingly, Zaidu Sanusi was Peseiro's first-choice left back in that tournament, and the Porto man was worked to the ground.

He was decent at that tournament, and played at least 80 minutes in all but one of Nigeria’s games at the tournament. It was not a surprise that he sustained an injury after the tournament.

Meanwhile, Onyemaechi will be desperate to keep his starting shirt in the Super Eagles and possibly push the team to success in Morocco.