Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, gave reasons for including Francis Onyeka ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Stade Brest, Soccernet.ng reports.
The seventeen-year-old Onyeka was called up to Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League squad for the first time following the absence of Nigerian forward, Victor Boniface, who picked a knock before the clash.
The DFB youth international, with eligibility to play for Nigeria, received a significant nod from manager Alonso, who did not hide his admiration for the talented youngster.
“He is a player we have high hopes for, he has good dynamism, listens well and is very attentive. But we also have to be patient.” he said as quoted by Kicker.
“I want him to feel and experience what it means to play in the Champions League,” said Alonso, “I want him to stay close to us, learn and improve. Boni isn’t here, so we needed someone else”
Onyeka, who stands at 6’1″ and is a technically skilled left-footer, has been rising through the ranks since joining Bayer Leverkusen’s youth academy in 2022.
His impressive performances for Germany’s U-17 team, including five goals in six matches during European Championship qualifiers, showcase his potential as a young forward on the cusp of breaking into elite-level football.
While Onyeka shares Boniface’s Nigerian roots and is set to follow his footsteps on the field, there’s a twist: Onyeka is likely to commit his international future to Germany, despite eligibility for the Super Eagles.