Raphael Onyedika Explained

Raphael Onyedika
Full Name:Raphael Onyedika Nwadike
Birth Date:19 April 2001
Birth Place:Imo State, Nigeria
Height:1.84 m
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Club Brugge
Clubnumber:15
Youthyears1:2016–2019
Youthclubs1:Ebedei
Youthyears2:2019–2020
Youthclubs2:Midtjylland
Years1:2020–2022
Clubs1:Midtjylland
Caps1:37
Goals1:2
Years2:2020–2021
Clubs2:Fredericia (loan)
Caps2:28
Goals2:3
Years3:2022–
Clubs3:Club Brugge
Caps3:61
Goals3:3
Nationalyears1:2022–
Nationalteam1:Nigeria
Nationalcaps1:9
Nationalgoals1:1
Club-Update:16:13, 23 June 2024 (UTC)
Ntupdate:20:00, 10 June 2024 (UTC)

Raphael Onyedika Nwadike (; born 19 April 2001) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Belgian club Club Brugge and the Nigeria national team.

Club career

Midtjylland

Onyedika used to play street football before joining F.C. Ebedei's academy at the age of 15.[1] After three years in Ebedei, Onyedika joined the academy of FC Midtjylland in Denmark, an affiliate club to FC Ebedei, shortly after his 18th birthday.

In his first full season in FC Midtjylland, he impressed in the U19 League and in the UEFA Youth League with his physique, speed and playing style. On 1 July 2020, he signed his first five-year professional contract with the club until June 2025.[2] To gain more experience, Onyedika was loaned out to Midtjylland's affiliate club, Danish 1st Division-side FC Fredericia, on 19 August 2020 for the whole 2020–21 season.[3] Onyedika did well on his loan spell, playing 28 games and scoring three goals. The season went well enough for the Nigerian to be named in TV3 Sport's team of the year in the Danish 1st Division.

Onyedika returned to Midtjylland in the summer 2021 and was promoted to the first team squad.[4] He got his official debut for Midtjylland on 16 July 2021 against Odense Boldklub, the first game of the 2021–22 Danish Superliga, where he was in the starting line-up and played the whole game.[5]

Club Brugge

On 28 August 2022, Onyedika signed a five-year contract with Club Brugge in Belgium.[6]

International career

In September 2022, Raphael Onedika was first called up with the Nigeria national team by coach José Peseiro.[7] He honours his first selection at this gathering on 27 September 2022 in a friendly match against Algeria. He came into play in place of Frank Onyeka in this match lost by the Nigerians (2-1 final score).

On 29 December 2023, he was selected in the list of 25 Nigerian players selected by José Peseiro to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Honours

Club Brugge

2023–24

Nigeria

Individual

Orders

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://www.fcm.dk/nyheder/raphael-onyedika-om-danmark-og-overgangen-til-seniorfodbold/ RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA OM DANMARK OG OVERGANGEN TIL SENIORFODBOLD
  2. https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/fcm-binder-talentfuld-nigerianer-til-2025/ FCM binder talentfuld nigerianer til 2025
  3. https://frdb.dk/artikel/fc-fredericia-tilknytter-endnu-en-spiller-fra-fc-midtjylland FC Fredericia tilknytter endnu en spiller fra FC Midtjylland
  4. https://www.bold.dk/fodbold/nyheder/fcm-rykker-seks-talenter-op-paa-foersteholdet/ FCM rykker seks talenter op på førsteholdet
  5. https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2021/07/16/denmark/superliga/fc-midtjylland/odense-boldklub/3510668/ MIDTJYLLAND VS. OB 1 – 2
  6. Web site: Club Brugge. CLUB BRUGGE LANDS RAPHAEL ONYEDIKA. 28 August 2022. 29 August 2022.
  7. Web site: 18 September 2022. en. Club Brugge Celebrate Onyedika’s First Call-up To Super Eagles. www.completesports.com.
  8. Web site: Stevens . Rob . 11 February 2024 . Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast . 12 February 2024 . BBC Sport.
  9. News: 2024-02-13 . Afcon: Ivory Coast and Nigeria players get cash, villas and honours . 2024-02-24 . . en-GB.