The Confederation of African Football has slammed a two-match ban on Super Eagles’ midfielder Ogenyi Onazi for his straight red card in last weekend’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad.

SS Lazio of Italy playmaker Onazi, who has been a fixture in the Super Eagles’ midfield for the past few years, was shown a straight red card for retaliation after Nigerien referee Ibrahim Mamane awarded Nigeria a penalty kick for a foul on striker Odion Ighalo.

A circular sent to the Nigeria Football Federation from the CAF Secretariat stated that for the “violent conduct, player No.17 Eddy Ogenyi Onazi was expelled and he is automatically suspended for his next 2 official matches: 39 – Tanzania Vs Nigeria and 66: Nigeria Vs Egypt.”

Nigeria play Tanzania in Dar es Salaam on September 5 on Matchday 2 of the qualifiers, and will then host Egypt on March 25, 2016.

A silver medal winner when Nigeria hosted the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009, Onazi won gold medal with the Super Eagles at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and was also in the Nigeria squad that reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil last year.

Author: NFF Admin