Playing for Super Eagles comes with pressure, says Onyemaechi

Super Eagles defender Bruno Onyemaechi has revealed that representing the Nigeria senior men’s national team puts players under intense pressure.

Onymeachi, who made his debut for the Super Eagles in September 2023, attributed this to the must-win mentality of most Nigerian football fans.

“When you put on the Nigeria shirt, the pressure is too much; you need to win. Even if you are playing in England, even if you are playing against the biggest team in the world, you need to win,” the Boavista defender told Eagles Tracker.

“My teammates in Portugal always tell me the same thing. Nigeria is bigger than Portugal in terms of the pressure.”

Having been an unused substitute for three consecutive matches, Onyeamchi made his first appearance for Nigeria in a 6-0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier victory over São Tomé and Príncipe at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on September 10, 2023.

Despite the Eagles’ dominance, Onyemaechi recalls the match for his nervousness—a state that the stand-in captain Wilfred Ndidi helped him overcome.

“The pressure got to me,” he admitted. “When the game started, 15 or 20 minutes later, I was a little bit shaky, and some of my teammates noticed, especially Ndidi.

“Ndidi noticed, called me, and told me to be more relaxed because it’s normal.”