By Korede James
Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika returned to fitness for Club Brugge on Tuesday but could not help the Belgian side avoid a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie at the Jan Breydel Stadion.
Onyedika sustained an injury in Club Brugge’s league clash against Standard Liege last month and the 23-year-old Nigeria international missed the clash with KAA Gent last weekend due to the knock.
He was back in the starting line-up on Tuesday before being replaced in the 90th minute for the Belgian champions.
Leon Bailey gave Villa the lead just three minutes into the game but Maxime De Cuyper restored parity for the hosts in the 12th minute.
Villa regained their lead eight minutes from time through an own goal by Brandon Mechele, and Marco Asensio, who is on loan from Paris Saint-Germain, added the third goal for the English side in the 88th minute.
Onyedika has been included in the Super Eagles’ 39-man provisional squad for this month’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe.
He is one of 10 midfielders listed by new Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle for the crucial fixtures.
