Super Eagles and Trabzonspor forward Paul Onuachu has played up the competition for spaces in the Nigerian attacker as they progress their AFCON 2025 campaign, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 31-year-old is second on the top goalscorer list (11) in the Turkish Super Lig despite being away for three weeks. Only Basaksehir's Eldor Shomurodov (12) has scored more.
The ex-Southampton forward started in Nigeria's 3-1 win over Uganda, playing 76 minutes at the Complexe de Fes and scoring a goal.
He then played just four minutes against Mozambique, replacing Ademola Lookman in the 86th minute.
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Paul Onuachu speaks on competition for starting spots in Nigeria's attack
Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams all found the back of the net for Eric Chelle's side last night. Cyriel Dessers is the only Nigerian striker not to have scored at the AFCON 2025.
He returned to his club side without playing a minute in Morocco after suffering a thigh injury that'll see him stay out of action till the final week of March.
Although he played just four minutes last night, Onuachu was delighted the team kept a clean sheet while scoring four goals.
“It's very important. We're on to the next, on to the quarterfinals, so it's very important that we won today. It's not always to score four goals in an African tournament,” the former Genk man told Soccernet.ng.
“The team is doing great, you know. The boys are happy. So the Nigerians are happy.
Quizzed about the competition for places, Onuachu said the strikers in the book always back whoever the coach chooses to play.
” I mean, we have good strikers. Victor Akor, me, Cyriel. I'm sorry he's injured, but I think Nigeria have good strikers, even the ones that are not here.
“So I mean it's all about who the coach calls upon to play. I think that they have to give their best. So I mean, we are all good.
“The coach prepares whoever he wants to start, and then we all back them up. The goal is to win. It's to go to the semis,” Onuachu concluded.
