Club Brugge coach Nicky Hayen has defended Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika after he was sent off in the club’s 3-2 loss to Fiorentina in the semifinals of the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Onyedika has been in brilliant form since Hayen took over as interim manager at Club Brugge. Last month, he scored three goals to win the Player of the Month award in April. And he was one of the players that was expected to lead Club Brugge’s charge against Fiorentina.
The 23-year-old got the nod to start for Club Brugge at the Stadio Artemi Franchi in Florence. It was expected to be a tough game for the former Belgian champions, and it was.
Club Brugge were a goal down at halftime, but they still had hopes of coming back into the game.
However, their chances of a win got dented in the second half after Onyedika got sent off. The Nigeria international got two yellow cards in the space of three minutes and received his marching orders.
Nonetheless, two minutes after Onyedika was sent off, Club Brugge scored the equalizer. Unfortunately, they could not hold on, as M’Bala Nzola scored the winner for Fiorentina at the death to ensure it ended 3-2.
After the game, Hayen jumped to Onyedika’s support, stating that the young Nigeria international was not aware that he had gotten a yellow card earlier.
“Onyedika just didn’t know that he had gotten a yellow card that first time. I know him well enough, he is a sensible player,” Hayen said, per hbvl.
“If he knew he had been booked, he certainly wouldn’t have made that tackle. He is more intelligent than that.”
Despite the red card, Onyedika will be available for Club Brugge’s Jupiler League Pro game against Antwerp this weekend. However, he will be unavailable for the second leg against Fiorentina next week.