Club Brugge midfielder, Raphael Onyedika will be sidelined for up to six weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained during Wednesday night’s 5-5 draw with Westerlo.
The Super Eagles star was helped off the pitch in the 16th minute of the thrilling encounter, leaving his teammates to complete what became one of the most dramatic matches of the Belgian season.
The 24-year-old defensive midfielder’s injury represents a significant blow for both club and country, particularly with Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Benin Republic scheduled for next month.
According to reports from Belgium, Onyedika will only return to action in November, ruling him out of the vital World Cup qualifying matches that could determine Nigeria’s path to the tournament in North America.
The former FC Midtjylland player has been in excellent form this season, making eight league appearances for Club Brugge and establishing himself as a key figure in Nicky Hayen’s midfield setup. His performances have been particularly impressive in European competition, where he scored in the team’s stunning 4-0 UEFA Champions League victory over Monaco last week.
Onyedika’s absence will be keenly felt at Jan Breydelstadion, where he has formed an effective partnership with Aleksandar Stankovic in the heart of midfield. The combination has given him greater freedom to influence play further forward, as demonstrated in his man-of-the-match performance in the recent 2-0 victory over Sint-Truiden.
The timing of the injury is particularly unfortunate given recent speculation about his future at the club. Reports suggest that Club Brugge would be willing to sanction a January departure for the Nigeria international, having blocked a summer transfer despite interest from several European clubs, including Eintracht Frankfurt, West Ham, Sevilla and Galatasaray.
The injury setback may affect any potential January move, with interested clubs likely to monitor his recovery progress closely before making firm offers in the next transfer window.
Club Brugge will now have to navigate both their domestic league commitments and Champions League campaign without one of their most consistent performers, adding pressure on Hayen to find suitable alternatives in his squad rotation.
Credit: punchng.com
