Frank Onyeka marked a memorable night with his first goal for Coventry City, helping his side to a dramatic 3-2 victory over Derby County at the CBS Arena.
The Super Eagles midfielder, fresh from international duty, made an instant impact by giving Coventry an early lead in the first half. Spotting the goalkeeper off his line, Onyeka produced a clever chipped finish to open the scoring and set the tone for an intense contest.
Despite the bright start, the game quickly turned into a battle as Derby fought back strongly, equalising twice to keep the contest level and pile pressure on the hosts heading into the second half.
With the match finely poised at 2-2, Coventry found their breakthrough through substitute Jack Rudoni, who proved decisive by scoring twice to seal all three points in front of the home crowd.
Speaking after the match to BBC Radio, Frank Onyeka praised the team’s resilience and ability to respond under pressure. “It was a good performance from the team,” he said.
“The way we fought, even when we were at 2-2, we came back. Jack Rudoni came on and scored two goals, which was really important. Now, we are happy for the victory.”
Reflecting on his goal, the Nigerian international highlighted the awareness behind his finish. “It was a special one. I saw the goalkeeper off the line, so I had to chip it. It was a good goal,” Onyeka added. “I’m happy I got my first goal for Coventry; I am really excited about it.”
He also explained the build-up to the moment, noting his attacking intent. “I had to go forward instead of going backwards because I felt we had more men to play a one-two and continue my run to score the goal.”
Frank Onyeka admitted the physical demands of a busy schedule, having just returned from international duty with Nigeria national football team. “Tired! I played on Tuesday night, travelled, came back, had a few training sessions on Thursday, and played today,” he said.
Despite the fatigue, he reiterated his pride in representing his country. “It’s nice to get this time to go away with Nigeria, which is a proud moment for me to represent my country. But also, travelling around is tiring, but we will keep on going.”
