Club Brugge of Belgium midfielder, Raphael Onyedika (Nwadike) has sent out words of appreciation to Fulham of England winger, Samuel Chukwueze for assisting him to score two goals against Uganda at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Sports247 reports that Onyedika turned out to be the unexpected hero and man of the match in the encounter on Tuesday, as he made the best of a rare outing in the Super Eagles’ starting line-up.
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The product of FC Ebedie of Sagamu, who played for FC Midtjylland and Fredericia of Denmark before joining Brugge in 2022, was one of eight substitutes who started Tuesday’s game.
Onyedika went on to net his third Nigeria goal, while making the best use of Eagles’ coach, Eric Chelle’s tactical decision to line out a second-string squad for the third group game in Fes, Morocco.
With the Eagles having already qualified and only needed a draw to top the group, Chelle took the luxury of resting most of his key players, but Onyedika turned out to be among the lot who justified their spots in the team.
However, Onyedika is not taking the credit alone, as the fair-skinned youngster, who was also praised by skipper of the day, Victor Osimhen for his sterling contributions in the encounter, gave profound kudos to Chukwueze.
Incidentally, all three of Onyedika’s goals for the Eagles have come from assists provided by Chukwueze, and the hero of the moment said it is due to keen understanding between both of them and some drills they practice during training.
“I need to buy Chukwueze a gift … all my three Super Eagles goals came from his assists. I know Samuel very well. Whenever he dribbles, he always looks and then cuts back.
“This is what we work out during training. It is also a matter of seconds when you decide. Some of these decisions don’t go the way you want it sometimes, but you just have to be ready.
“So, I try to make sure that I’m always in that position. Luckily, against Uganda, I was always in a good position,” the 24-year-old Onyedika stated.
He also thanked Chelle for the opportunity given him to start the encounter on Tuesday and admitted that he is always eager to get on the pitch to contribute in the Eagles’ search for victory.
“It is the same like any other player; when you are not playing, you just have to keep the focus and keep working and wait for your opportunity.
“I feel happy and I cannot explain how I feel but it’s a moment I have been working for all my life and I am happy it finally came true,” Onyedika posited.
Sports247 recalls that the youngster, who now has 19 international caps, scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 2-1 loss away to Benin Republic during a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification match on June 10th, 2024 at Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivorie.
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