Ogenyi Onazi
African
football governing body CAF has handed Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi
Onazi a two-match ban following a straight red card he got during
Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Chad in Kaduna on
Saturday.
As a result of the ban, the SS Lazio of
Italy midfielder would miss Nigeria’s next two matches against Tanzania
in Dar es Salaam on September 5 and Egypt in Nigeria on March 25, 2016.
Onazi 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 in the second half of
the game.
A CAF circular sent to the Nigeria
Football Federation referred to Onazi’s action as a “violent conduct”
and announced the suspension.
“Player No.17 Eddy Ogenyi Onazi was
expelled and he is automatically suspended for his next two official
matches: 39 – Tanzania vs Nigeria and 66: Nigeria vs Egypt,” the
circular stated.
Onazi, who played prominent roles
for Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2009, the 2013 Africa Cup of
Nations in South Africa and 2014 FIFA World Cup, had apologised for the
indiscretion but has to wait out his ban.
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