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Frank Onyeka, the midfielder for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, earned the title of the best tackler in the recently concluded 2023 AFCON, as recognized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Known by the nickname “tank” for his remarkable performance, Onyeka played a crucial role in the Super Eagles’ journey from the group stage to the final of the tournament.
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Despite their loss to Ivory Coast in the final, the Super Eagles remained undefeated throughout the group and knockout stages.
After the 2023 African Cup of Nations, CAF revealed that Frank Onyeka recorded 14 tackles and 11 interceptions, making him the player with the highest stats in these categories at the tournament.
The 26-year-old Brentford midfielder achieved this feat after playing a total of 608 minutes out of a possible 660 minutes.
Calvin Bassey, another player from the Super Eagles, secured the second-highest number of tackles at the tournament with 13.
This performance was a notable departure from Bassey’s previously known soft style of football. Gédéon Kalulu, a defender from DR Congo and FC Lorient, followed closely with 12 tackles.
South Africa’s Aubrey Modiba and Ivory Coast’s Ghislain Konan both achieved 11 tackles, making them the joint fourth-best tacklers at the 2023 AFCON.
