“So nonchalant” – Club Brugge legend slams Onyedika after Westerlo substitution row

Club Brugge and Belgium legend, Marc Degryse, has called out Super Eagles midfielder, Raphael Onyedika, for his reaction after he was subbed off in his side’s 2-1 win over Westerlo, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 23-year-old has been a regular for the Blauw-Zwart this season, providing one assist, but didn’t have the best of games against Waterlo on Saturday.

The Nigerian International provided the assist for Jorne Spillers to break the deadlock four minutes into the game at the Het Kuipje.

Hans Vanaken extended the lead for the Belgian champions twenty minutes later before an error from Onyedika allowed Westerlo to narrow the two-goal deficit.

The former Midtjylland midfielder was withdrawn by the head coach, Nicky Hayden, in the 81st minute and he didn’t take the decision lightly as he made his displeasure known to his coach and the rest of the technical staff which in turn angered Degryse.

“On Saturday in Westerlo I found his performance to be outrageous. It was just over the top. So nonchalant. I know coaches who would have replaced Onyedika after twenty minutes. I think a coach or even a board should make it clear to Onyedika that a match like this at Westerlo was unacceptable. And then he was still angry when he was substituted. I have never seen anything like that from a player who plays in the ‘6′ position,” the 59-year-old said in quotes relayed by Voetbalbelgie.

Club Brugge are currently 4th on the Belgian Pro League table, seven points behind Tolu Arokodare’s Genk.

Adefolahan Guerreiro

Adefolahan is a multilingual journalist and writer at Soccernet Nigeria.

With a track record of involvement in College sports, Adefolahan is focused on crafting engaging football content and utilising his language skills and extensive sports knowledge to enhance content accessibility for a global audience.

He has interviewed Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.