Super Eagles midfielder Onyeka warns against overconfidence ahead of Mozambique clash

Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has hinted at Nigeria's tactical approach for Monday's Round of 16 AFCON clash against Mozambique in Morocco. The FC Ebedei player, who has featured once in the tournament during the five-goal thriller against Tunisia, emphasized the team's focus on self-improvement rather than opponent analysis.

Onyeka credited Nigeria's perfect nine-point group stage performance to intense competition for starting positions and collective determination to make Nigerians proud. "Competition helps the team in a good way. There are a lot of skilled players, especially in the middle of the field. Many players didn't play against Uganda, but we still managed to win—that shows we have really good players," he stated.

Despite the flawless group stage, the midfielder issued a stark warning against complacency: "We had nine points in the group stage, but we don't need to lose focus. We need to stay calm and focus on the next round, on ourselves, not just the opponents." Onyeka revealed that players have taken personal responsibility for improvement, saying, "The players, not just the coach, because we take responsibility for the things we need to do to get better."

Looking ahead to Monday's fixture, Onyeka expects no deviation from Nigeria's established style: "The same thing. Nothing will change. We'll play with all our strength, give our best, and, with God's help, win and move on to the next stage." He attributed Nigeria's tournament resurgence to a combination of player dedication and coaching expertise, describing both as "just as focused" on winning AFCON for Nigerian supporters.

The midfielder also reflected on his crucial role in 2026 World Cup qualifying, where he scored against Benin and netted Nigeria's opener in the playoff final against DR Congo. With Nigeria facing Mozambique, the question for fans is whether this squad's depth and unified mentality can deliver the trophy Onyeka and his teammates are determined to bring home.

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/01/04/afcon-onyeka-gives-hints-on-super-eagles-plans-against-mozambique/