Super Eagles midfielder, Raphael Onyedika, received a straight red card during Club Brugge’s UEFA Champions League clash against AC Milan, Soccernet.ng reports.
With just five minutes left in the first half, Onyedika’s challenge on AC Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders, in an attempt to chase down the ball, left the Dutchman writhing in pain.
A VAR review prompted the match official, Felix Zwayer, to show the Nigerian midfielder a straight red card for the dangerous foul.
This marks Onyedika’s second red card of the 2024-25 season, with the first occurring in Club Brugge’s 1-1 draw against Royale Union Saint-Gilloise.
The Nigerian international has been a key player for Nicky Hayen’s side, particularly in the Champions League, where he scored in one of his last two appearances.
Onyedika’s early exit came as a significant blow to Brugge, who were already trailing 1-0 after Christian Pulisic’s 39th-minute strike.
The sending-off has left coach Nicky Hayen with a tactical dilemma as he looks to turn the game around for the Belgian club.
Meanwhile, fellow Nigerian international Samuel Chukwueze, who plays for AC Milan, did not start the match but could feature as a second-half substitute, with Milan aiming to build on their 1-0 lead from their recent win against Udinese.
The red card could complicate matters for Brugge as they push for a comeback against the Italian giants, while Onyedika’s absence may force a reshuffle in Hayen’s plans.
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