By Dayo Awoniyi
Nigeria midfielder Raphael Onyedika has been declared fit to return to action for Club Brugge ahead of their Jupiler Pro League fixture against Dender this weekend, Nigeria Footballng reports.
The 24-year-old has been sidelined since late September after sustaining a hamstring injury during Brugge’s league match against Westerlo. His recovery has been carefully managed by the club’s medical team, and he resumed full training earlier this week.
Onyedika was not involved in Brugge’s 6–1 victory over Eendracht Aalst in the Beker van België, but his inclusion in the 21-man matchday squad marks a major step in his rehabilitation. While he is not expected to start, the Nigerian international could make a second-half appearance as he builds match fitness.
His return comes as a timely boost for both Club Brugge and the Nigerian national team, with the Super Eagles set to play key 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff fixtures next month.
Head coach Eric Chelle is expected to retain Wilfred Ndidi as his first-choice defensive midfielder, but Onyedika’s availability adds valuable depth and tactical flexibility in midfield.
Known for his ball-winning ability, stamina, and composure in possession, Onyedika’s comeback will strengthen Brugge’s midfield options as the Belgian giants aim to maintain their title challenge and progress in Europe.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
