In a Champions League night filled with drama at San Siro, it was Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika who found himself at the centre of controversy once again.
The midfielder was shown a straight red card in Club Brugge's UEFA Champions League clash against AC Milan, marking his second ejection of the season.
This incident left Brugge at a disadvantage in their 3-1 defeat, sparking frustration both on and off the pitch.
The game took a decisive turn in the 40th minute when a challenge involving Onyedika and Milan’s Tijjani Reijnders prompted a VAR review.
While the tackle appeared unclear at first, slow-motion replays revealed that Onyedika’s foot ended up on Reijnders' ankle.
Despite the apparent lack of intent, referee Felix Zwayer wasted no time issuing the red card, much to the dismay of the Brugge camp.
Raphael Onyedika’s red card drama continues
Before the dismissal, Onyedika had been performing well, controlling the midfield with 18 touches and creating two key opportunities. Unfortunately, his exit left the Belgian side struggling to keep up with Milan’s attack.
This marks the second straight red card for Raphael Onyedika in just over a month, following a similar incident in a 1-1 draw against Charleroi.
His growing reputation for disciplinary issues has become a point of concern, casting a shadow over his otherwise solid contributions to Brugge.
Meanwhile, Samuel Chukwueze, another Nigerian international, enjoyed a much brighter evening.
Coming on as a second-half substitute, Chukwueze made an immediate impact, providing the assist for Milan’s third goal.
It was the winger’s second consecutive match with a goal contribution, further showing his coach why he deserves first team football with his recent form.
Onyedika will now miss their next game against Aston Villa while Chukwueze continues to rise, delivering performances that could play a key role in Milan’s all-round campaign.
