“Left out but not done,” Frank Onyeka eyes Super Eagles return

• Frank Onyeka, a key figure for Augsburg this season, has opened up about his exclusion from Nigeria’s World Cup Qualifiers in March
• Despite two assists and 28 strong outings in the Bundesliga, the Super Eagles left Onyeka out of the final squad for Rwanda and Zimbabwe
• With his current Bundesliga form and Nigeria’s midfield concerns, Onyeka’s return to the national team may be inevitable

Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka has been in top form recently, but the Super Eagles left him out in March for the AFCON qualifiers, and the midfielder isn’t hiding his disappointment.

Currently on loan at Bundesliga side FC Augsburg from Premier League club Brentford, the 27-year-old has been a consistent performer in the German top flight. His tireless displays in midfield have helped Augsburg push to 11th on the Bundesliga table, with Onyeka contributing two assists across 28 appearances this season.

Despite his reliability and consistency, Onyeka’s name was omitted from Nigeria’s final squad list for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixtures against Rwanda and Zimbabwe in March. He was initially part of the provisional squad but did not make the final cut, a decision that visibly left him sad.

Speaking to Nigerian journalist Oma Akatugba, Onyeka admitted he was disappointed to be left out, 

“I was quite sad about it, but the coach knows best, he knows what players he wants to use. But hopefully in the next couple of games I’ll be available. I’m always available, so hopefully I’ll be with the team,” he said.

Notably, Nigeria’s performance in March was quite inconsistent, beating Rwanda and drawing against Zimbabwe, collecting four points from a possible six points. 

But the Zimbabwe draw felt more like a missed opportunity, with fans and analysts highlighting the midfield’s lack of intensity and balance. Many believe Onyeka’s ball-winning ability and energetic presence would have made a difference.

Currently, Nigeria sits fourth in Group C of the African World Cup Qualifiers, six points behind table-toppers South Africa. 

While the gap is worrying, Onyeka remains optimistic about the Super Eagles’ chances of qualification,

“We are in a difficult situation, but there’s still chance for us, we just need to win our next four games and hopefully we’ll qualify,” he said.

His confidence, like his on-field work rate, remains solid. And given his form at Augsburg, Onyeka could find himself back in the squad sooner rather than later. 

With the Super Eagles’ next fixtures around the corner, calls for his return may grow louder, especially in a midfield still searching for stability.

“I rushed to meet his dad,” Ex-NFF boss Pinnick reflects on convincing Lookman to join Super Eagles

Previously, TheRadar reported that Amaju Pinnick, former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has revealed the extensive efforts that culminated in Ademola Lookman’s first competitive appearance for the Super Eagles in March 2022. 

The revelation comes after Lookman was crowned African Footballer of the Year on Monday, December 16 in Morocco, a milestone Pinnick regards as validation of the groundwork laid during his tenure.