Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika played a key role in Club Brugge’s 2-1 victory over arch-rivals Anderlecht in the Belgian Cup final on Sunday at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels. The triumph marked Brugge’s 12th Belgian Cup title and secured their place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
Brugge’s hero on the scoresheet was 21 year old Romeo Vermant, who netted in each half, finishing off deliveries from Hugo Siquet and Christos Tzolis. Anderlecht pulled one back late through Luis Vázquez, but the blue-and-black held firm to see out the win in what was the 202nd meeting between the two sides.
Onyedika started in midfield, playing 74 minutes and picking up an early yellow card, but remained composed and was instrumental in controlling the pace of the match. The 24-year-old has now made 31 league appearances this season, starting 27 of them and logging over 2,200 minutes. His only goal of the season came in a 7–0 rout of Sint-Truiden back in November.
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Having joined from FC Midtjylland in 2022, Onyedika’s performances have attracted interest from European giants such as Manchester City, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain. With Brugge just one point off the top of the league table, a domestic double is still within reach—something the club last achieved in 1995–96.
Editorial
Trophies define careers, but performances in finals etch players into folklore and Raphael Onyedika is slowly building a legacy in Belgium. Sunday’s Belgian Cup win over Anderlecht was not just a showcase of Club Brugge’s resurgence but also a reminder of Onyedika’s value in big moments.
The Nigerian midfielder may not be the flashiest name on the pitch, but he brings balance, grit, and tactical maturity to every performance. In a high-pressure final, he kept his head despite an early booking and helped neutralise an Anderlecht side desperate for a late comeback.
With Europe watching and Brugge in title contention, Onyedika’s star is rising fast. He’s no longer just a player with promise he’s a proven winner, and perhaps a midfield solution Nigeria can’t afford to ignore much longer.
Did You Know?
- Raphael Onyedika won the Danish Superliga with FC Midtjylland before joining Club Brugge in 2022.
- Club Brugge’s last domestic double came nearly three decades ago, in the 1995–96 season.
- The Belgian Cup final is one of the most-watched football events in Belgium, with this year’s edition drawing over 40,000 fans to the stadium.
- Onyedika was part of Nigeria’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations squad but featured sparingly despite being in top club form.
- Romeo Vermant, who scored both goals in the final, is the son of former Club Brugge and Belgium star Sven Vermant.
