Francis Onyeka: 17yo forward celebrates his senior debut for Bayer Leverkusen with a win

German-born Nigerian forward Francis Onyeka celebrated his senior debut for Bayer Leverkusen with a victory on Tuesday as the reigning Bundesliga champions thrashed SV Elversberg 3-0 in a DFB-Pokal match at the BayArena, allnigeriasoccer.com reports. 

Onyeka is officially regarded as one of the top talents in German football at the moment and at 17, it was only a matter of time before he made his professional debut.

On October 18, he was awarded the most prestigious individual award in German youth football, Fritz Walter Medal, by the German Football Association.

The talented teenager received four first team call-ups prior to the visit of  SV Elversberg but was an unused substitute on each occasion.

Sporting the number 40 on the back of his jersey, Onyeka entered the game as a substitute in the 87th minute, replacing Arthur.

The game was already sewn up when manager Xabi Alonso decided to bring him off the bench, thanks to first half goals from Patrik Schick (2) and Aleix García.

A week ago, Onyeka travelled with the Bayer Leverkusen squad to France for their UEFA Champions League meeting with Stade Brestois, following a minor injury to Victor Boniface from a car accident.

He has been on the books of Bayer Leverkusen since the age of seven after joining from  SC Borussia Lindenthal-Hohenlind.

Super Eagles forward Nathan Tella made a rare start for the Black and Reds, lasing 69 minutes on the pitch before he was substituted, while Victor Boniface was the third Nigerian attack-minded player in action against SV Elversberg. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit: bayer04.de

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