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Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka showcased his defensive prowess during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.
According to PUNCH Sports Extra, Onyeka completed an impressive 14 tackles and 11 interceptions, making him the leader in both categories at the tournament.
Onyeka’s outstanding performance justified the faith placed in him by coach Jose Peseiro, as he played a crucial role in helping Nigeria secure a second-place finish.
Out of a possible 660 minutes, Onyeka featured for 608 minutes, second only to Semi Ajayi in terms of playing time.
Despite having Raphael Onyedika as an option, Peseiro consistently relied on Onyeka’s abilities.
Recent statistics released by the Confederation of African Football confirmed that the 26-year-old midfielder outperformed all other players in terms of tackles and interceptions at the AFCON.
Calvin Bassey, another Nigerian player, closely followed Onyeka with 13 tackles, just one short of the midfielder’s tally.
Bassey, who had previously faced criticism for his playing style, displayed a more assertive performance in Ivory Coast.
Additionally, Bassey’s defensive record showed that he was never beaten by opponents throughout the tournament.
Gédéon Kalulu from DR Congo secured the third-best tackle completion with 12 tackles. His contributions were instrumental in the Leopards’ impressive run at the AFCON, where they reached the semi-finals before losing to hosts Ivory Coast.
South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba and Ivory Coast’s Ghislain Konan both recorded 11 tackles, tying for the fourth spot.
Onyeka recently played for Brentford, but only featured for the last 27 minutes in their 4-1 defeat against Liverpool.
However, manager Thomas Frank will be hopeful of having the Nigerian midfielder fully fit for their upcoming Premier League match against Manchester City on Tuesday.
