Club Brugge Midfielder Joins Super Eagles Camp For AFCON

Club Brugge Midfielder Joins Super Eagles Camp For AFCON 

By Our Reporter 

Club Brugge have confirmed that Nigerian midfielder Raphael Onyedika will leave the club to join the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The tournament, which runs from December 21 to January 18, marks the 35th edition of Africa’s premier international competition and the second time Morocco will host the event.

In a statement published on their official website, Brugge announced:

“Onyedika, included in Nigeria’s squad, is scheduled to begin his campaign against Tanzania on Tuesday, 23 December, at 18:30. His group-stage fixtures will continue against Tunisia on Saturday, 27 December, and conclude against Uganda on Tuesday, 30 December. Club Brugge’s other international representative, Shandré Campbell, will feature for South Africa in Group B, facing Angola, Egypt and Zimbabwe.”

Although Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle has yet to release his final AFCON squad list, Onyedika was named in the 54-man provisional roster unveiled last Tuesday. The final squad is expected to be announced on or before Thursday’s CAF deadline, with the Super Eagles’ training camp scheduled to open today ahead of a pre-tournament friendly against Egypt on December 16.

Before joining the national team, Onyedika is expected to feature in Brugge’s remaining fixtures, including a crucial UEFA Champions League match against Arsenal on Wednesday and a domestic league tie versus Dender on Sunday.

Brugge enter the Champions League clash in difficult form, sitting 26th in the expanded 36-team standings with just one point from four matches. Their only victory came on matchday one against Monaco, followed by mixed results against Barcelona, Atalanta, Bayern Munich and Sporting Lisbon—including a heavy 3–0 defeat to Sporting.

Domestic results have also been inconsistent, with back-to-back league losses to Royal Antwerp and Sint-Truiden dropping Brugge to third place in the Jupiler Pro League, five points behind leaders Union SG.

Onyedika, who has scored once in two Champions League appearances this season, will be expected to maintain the level of discipline and composure he showed during Brugge’s 3–3 draw with Barcelona as the club attempts to revive its continental campaign.