Francis Onyeka, a highly-rated 17-year-old Nigerian forward, made his UEFA Champions League debut for Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday in a resounding 5-0 victory over Salzburg at the BayArena, AllNigeriaSoccer reports.
Onyeka, born in Germany, is regarded as one of the brightest talents in German football. Just last month, he was awarded the prestigious Fritz Walter Medal by the German Football Association, a recognition given to outstanding young players in the country.
Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso turned to the Germany youth international due to the absence of several key players, including Super Eagles striker Victor Boniface, who was sidelined by injury. Others unavailable for selection included Amine Adli, Jonas Hofmann, Nordi Mukiele, Jeanuël Belocian, and Martin Terrier.
Leverkusen dominated the match, with goals from Florian Wirtz (2), Alejandro Grimaldo, Patrik Schick, and Aleix Garcia putting the team in a commanding position by the 71st minute. This allowed Alonso to introduce Onyeka in the 76th minute, replacing Florian Wirtz.
Onyeka’s Champions League debut is the latest milestone in his budding career. He has impressed for both Germany’s youth teams and Bayer Leverkusen’s academy sides. The young forward made his professional debut in a DFB-Pokal match on October 29, playing the final three minutes of a 3-0 win against SV Elversberg.
So far, Onyeka has been included in the matchday squad 10 times this season, spanning five Bundesliga games, three UEFA Champions League fixtures, and two DFB-Pokal matches.
With his talent and composure on display, Onyeka is seen as a star in the making, and his Champions League appearance marks a significant step in his development.
