Bayer Leverkusen manager, Xabi Alonso, has provided insights into the inclusion of Francis Onyeka ahead of their UEFA Champions League clash against Stade Brest. The seventeen-year-old Onyeka received his first call-up to Bayer Leverkusen’s Champions League squad due to the absence of Nigerian forward Victor Boniface, who sustained a minor injury before the match.
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Alonso expressed his admiration for Onyeka, a DFB youth international eligible to play for Nigeria, stating, “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 added, “I want him to feel and experience what it means to play in the Champions League. I want him to stay close to us, learn, and improve. Boni isn’t here, so we needed someone else.”
Standing at 6’1″, Onyeka is a technically skilled left-footer who has been progressing through Bayer Leverkusen’s youth academy since 2022. His impressive performances for Germany’s U-17 team, including five goals in six matches during European Championship qualifiers, highlight his potential as a young forward poised to make an impact in elite-level football.
While Onyeka shares Nigerian roots with Boniface and is on the path to following in his footsteps, there’s a twist: he is likely to commit his international future to Germany, despite being eligible for the Super Eagles.
