Frank Onyeka shuts down talk of rivalry with Onyedika for Super Eagles starting position

Onyedika delivered a standout performance in Nigeria's recent match against Uganda, scoring two goals after being brought into the midfield alongside Fisayo Dele-Bashiru. 

The changes, which saw Wilfred Ndidi and Onyeka rest after securing qualification to the next round, proved effective for the Super Eagles.

The impressive display from the new midfield pairing prompted head coach Eric Chelle to acknowledge the "selection headache" he now faces ahead of the knockout stages, specifically praising Onyedika's contribution.

Despite the increased competition for places, Onyeka expressed his support for his teammate and clarified that they occupy different roles on the pitch.

"Rival? No! I mean, he’s a midfielder, and I’m a midfielder. We play different roles," Onyeka stated. "He’s a defensive midfielder, and I’m more like a central midfielder."

The Brentford star was quick to praise Onyedika's two-goal performance, emphasising the collective spirit within the squad.

"He had a great game. We are all happy, and I’m especially happy for him getting two goals," Onyeka added. 

"I’m happy for Ryan [Alebiosu] as well. “He had a good game. Offensively and defensively, he was very strong. He played really well today."

Looking ahead, Onyeka stressed that the team's focus remains internal as they prepare for their next challenge.

"Unto the next game now, we’re only thinking about ourselves, how we can improve, and not about the opponents," the 27-year-old concluded.