Izuchukwu Okosi
Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has expressed profound excitement ahead of the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire and hopes to be part of Nigeria’s party to the tournament.
The Brentford player was among 41 players that made the provisional squad released by the Nigeria Football Federation and subsequently made the final list on Friday.
“I’ll always want to represent my country on the big stage. It’s an honour to wear the green and white shirt, so it’s something. that I have to do,” Onyeka told the BBC.
“I was a boy playing in the streets of Nigeria and now I’m representing the Super Eagles at AFCON.
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“It is a dream come true, because after watching AFCON legends in past years, now you’re going to be part of the team. I’m looking forward to it so much,” the former Midjtylland of Denmark star added.
Nigeria legend and winner of the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia, Austin ‘Jay jay’ Okocha also spoke to the BBC on the departure of African players for the bi-annual competition
“They’ve made it so difficult for African players by playing in January or starting the season and winter break very, very early,” Okocha told the BBC World Service.
“If they can move the World Cup to December because of the heat to suit the nations that are participating, why can’t they do something about the Nations Cup, and work together so that it will not affect anybody?
“I know a lot of coaches that refuse to sign African players because of the January (AFCON) window, but they will sign Brazilians who go to play in the Copa America in the summer. It’s not fair.”
Nigeria’s first game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote D’Ivoire will hold on January 14 against Equatorial Guinea.
