Super Eagles forward Paul Onuachu has addressed Nigerian supporters with a message of assurance following the national team's recent friendly match and ahead of the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Onuachu Reflects on Egypt Friendly Defeat
The 31-year-old striker was part of the Super Eagles squad that suffered a 2-1 defeat to the Pharaohs of Egypt in a friendly match at the Cairo International Stadium on Tuesday night, December 16, 2025. Despite the loss, Onuachu expressed personal confidence in his performance.
"It feels good to play against Egypt, especially knowing that I scored my first goal for the Super Eagles against them years ago," Onuachu stated. "I felt confident and comfortable during the game and thought I played well, but unfortunately, we lost. Still, as a team, we had a good performance."
The match saw Chigozie Awaziem score an equalizer for Nigeria in the 45+3rd minute, before Egypt's Mostafa Mohamed netted the winner in the 53rd minute.
AFCON 2025 Call-Up and Past Omissions
Onuachu's message comes after he was named in coach Eric Chelle's final 28-man squad for AFCON 2025, a notable inclusion following his absence from recent crucial qualifiers.
The Trabzonspor star was not selected by Chelle for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic last October, nor for the playoffs against Gabon and DR Congo. His current club form, however, has been impossible to ignore.
Onuachu is currently the joint top scorer in the Turkish Super Lig, having found the net 11 times in just 14 matches for Trabzonspor, leading the Golden Boot race.
Pressure to Perform in What Could Be His Last AFCON
With the tournament opener against Tanzania just days away, the spotlight is on Onuachu to translate his club form to the international stage. Nigerian sports journalist Kingsley Oyero has emphasized the importance of this tournament for the striker.
In an exclusive interview, Oyero suggested that AFCON 2025 might be Onuachu's last chance to cement his place with the national team. "I have to be brutal with the truth, Paul Onuachu needs to score goals during this AFCON because there are lots of strikers trying to break into the national team," Oyero said. "If he fails to impress Eric Chelle, he should forget about the national team and retire peacefully."
This will be Onuachu's third AFCON appearance. He has previously won bronze and silver medals with the Super Eagles and will be hoping to go one step further and lift the trophy in Morocco. Since his debut in 2019, he has scored three goals for Nigeria.
Coach Eric Chelle has previously apologized for excluding Onuachu from past squads, citing tough selection decisions, but now places his faith in the in-form striker to make a significant impact in the quest for continental glory.
