Germany based Nigeria international Frank Onyeka reiterated his commitment to the Super Eagles despite being ignored by head coach Eric Chelle during the last international break that saw Nigeria take on Rwanda and Zimbabwe in the World Cup qualifiers back in March, Footynaija.com reports.
Onyeka, who left Premier League side Brentford for a loan spell with Bundesliga outfit Augsburg last summer, has enjoyed a pretty decent campaign in Germany. The former FC Midtjylland star has racked up 24 starts in 25 league appearances so far, establishing himself as a key player for Die Fuggerstadter.
However, Super Eagles boss Chelle remained unconvinced by his performances at The WWK Arena. Despite naming the 27-year-old midfielder in a 30-man provisional squad, Chelle ultimately excluded him from the final 23-man team that secured a 2-0 win over Rwanda and later drew with Zimbabwe.
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What Onyeka said
Nevertheless, Onyeka remains committed to the cause of the Super Eagles despite his recent exclusion, emphasizing in an interview with popular football journalist Oma Akatugba that he is “always available” for selection.
“I was quite sad about it, but the coach knows best, he knows what players he wants to use,” Onyeka said regarding his exclusion from the Super Eagles squad.
“But hopefully in the next couple of games I’ll be available. I’m always available, so hopefully I’ll be with the team.”
As it stands, the Super Eagles not only require hard work, they also need a huge amount of good fortune to secure a World Cup ticket. Currently sitting fourth and six points behind leaders South Africa, Nigeria must win all of their four remaining games while hoping the teams above them fumble.
Despite the dire situation, Onyeka is optimistic about Nigeria’s chances: “We are in a difficult situation, but there’s still a chance for us, we just need to win our next four games and hopefully we’ll qualify.”
