Awoniyi in, Okocha out: 10 Super Eagles stars with Premier League red cards

Taiwo Awoniyi has joined a select group of Nigeria Super Eagles players to receive a red card in the Premier League after his dismissal against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Coventry City striker was sent off in the 53rd minute of a 5-0 defeat after an aerial challenge with Brighton defender Maxim De Cuyper.

Awoniyi’s red card was his first in the Premier League and came at a difficult point in his return to regular football. The decision was reviewed by VAR and upheld, leaving Coventry without their Nigerian striker for three league matches.

His name now sits alongside Nigerian stars from different generations, including John Obi Mikel, Wilfred Ndidi, Joseph Yobo, Yakubu Aiyegbeni and Celestine Babayaro. But one of Nigeria’s most famous Premier League players, Jay-Jay Okocha, is missing from the list because he was never sent off in the competition.

Super Eagles stars with Premier League red cards

John Obi Mikel

Obi Mikel’s first Premier League red card came during Chelsea’s 1-0 win at Reading in October 2006.

The midfielder was sent off in the 62nd minute after receiving a second yellow card for bringing down Ibrahima Sonko. Reading’s André Bikey was also dismissed later in the match, but Chelsea held on to win through an Ingimarsson own goal.

Mikel’s second Premier League dismissal came in September 23, 2007, when Chelsea lost 2-0 to Manchester United at Old Trafford. Referee Mike Dean sent him off after 32 minutes for a lunging challenge on Patrice Evra. Chelsea appealed, but the red card was upheld and Mikel received a three-match suspension.

Mikel had another red card against Everton in January 2008, but that came in the League Cup, not the Premier League. He therefore finished his Premier League career with two red cards.

Wilfred Ndidi

Wilfred Ndidi was sent off twice during the 2017-18 Premier League season, both times for Leicester City.

His first dismissal came on December 16 against Crystal Palace at the King Power Stadium. Leicester lost 3-0, and Ndidi was shown a second yellow card in the 61st minute for simulation inside the Palace penalty area. It was his 21st birthday.

His second came on March 31, 2018 during Leicester’s 2-0 defeat at Brighton. Ndidi was sent off in the 87th minute, again after receiving a second yellow card. That gave the midfielder two Premier League red cards in the same campaign.

Celestine Babayaro

Babayaro’s Premier League dismissal came during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw at Bolton Wanderers on November 23, 2002.

The Nigerian left-back was sent off after an incident involving Bolton forward Youri Djorkaeff. Babayaro was shown the red card after being accused of elbowing the Frenchman during an aerial challenge. He protested that the contact was accidental and said he planned to appeal.

The match at the Reebok Stadium finished 1-1, with Henrik Pedersen scoring for Bolton before Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink equalised for Chelsea.

Joseph Yobo

Yobo received his Premier League red card during Everton’s 2-1 defeat at Newcastle United in the 2002-03 season. Referee Mark Halsey dismissed the Super Eagles defender during the match at St James’ Park.

Everton manager David Moyes was unhappy with the decision at the time, although he later accepted that Yobo’s dismissal was justified. Yobo went on to establish himself as one of Everton’s most important defenders and eventually became the club’s captain.

Shola Ameobi

Ameobi’s Premier League red card came at the end of Newcastle’s 2-1 defeat at Liverpool on May 11, 2014.

The striker was sent off in the 66th minute at Anfield after receiving two yellow cards within a short period. He had protested to referee Phil Dowd after Liverpool’s second goal before receiving his second booking.

Ameobi’s dismissal came on his final Premier League appearance for Newcastle after 14 years at the club. He finished his Newcastle career with 298 Premier League appearances.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu’s only Premier League red card came during Blackburn Rovers’ 3-1 home win over Fulham on January 14, 2012.

The Super Eagles striker was dismissed in the 23rd minute at Ewood Park after catching Danny Murphy on the knee with a high challenge. Referee Anthony Taylor showed him a straight red card.

The decision looked like it could cost Blackburn the game, but Rovers responded with three goals and won 3-1. Yakubu subsequently missed three league matches against Everton, Newcastle United and Arsenal.

Victor Anichebe

Anichebe was sent off during Everton’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City at Eastlands on December 20, 2010.

The forward received his first yellow card for a foul on Joe Hart before being shown a second yellow in the 60th minute after bringing down Pablo Zabaleta. Everton therefore played the final stages with 10 men but held on for an important victory.

Tim Cahill and Leighton Baines had already put Everton 2-0 ahead before Yaya Touré’s side pulled one back through a deflected goal.

Peter Odemwingie

Odemwingie was sent off during West Bromwich Albion’s 3-0 home defeat by Fulham on September 15, 2012.

The Nigerian forward was shown a straight red card after kicking Sascha Riether during an off-the-ball incident. West Brom had started the season strongly, but Odemwingie’s dismissal helped turn the match in Fulham’s favour.

It was a rare disciplinary low point during Odemwingie’s best Premier League period. He scored 37 goals in 129 Premier League appearances.

Semi Ajayi

Ajayi’s Premier League red card came during West Brom’s 0-0 draw at Burnley on February 20, 2021.

The defender was sent off in the first half after using his hand to stop Matej Vydra from running through on goal. Referee Mike Dean initially allowed play to continue but went to the pitchside monitor after a VAR review before awarding the straight red.

The decision came around the half-hour mark and left West Brom with 10 men for more than an hour. The Baggies still earned a point at Turf Moor.

Taiwo Awoniyi

Awoniyi became the latest Nigerian to see red in the Premier League when Coventry lost 5-0 to Brighton on September 13, 2026.

The striker was dismissed in the 53rd minute after his elbow caught De Cuyper during an aerial challenge. Referee Tony Harrington initially showed a straight red, and VAR reviewed but upheld the decision.

The card arrived after Brighton had already taken control. Charalampos Kostoulas opened the scoring in the 35th minute before Malick Yalcouyé doubled the lead shortly after half-time.

Awoniyi’s dismissal now carries a three-match Premier League suspension.

Okocha: 124 Premier League games and no red card

Jay-Jay Okocha’s absence from this list is almost as interesting as the names on it.

The former Super Eagles captain played 124 Premier League matches for Bolton Wanderers between 2002 and 2006, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists. He became one of the division’s most entertaining players during his four seasons at the club.

Okocha arrived from Paris Saint-Germain and quickly became a Bolton favourite. His first Premier League season produced seven goals as Sam Allardyce’s side secured their top-flight status.

He also captained Bolton to the 2004 League Cup final, where they lost 2-1 to Middlesbrough.

Yet despite four seasons, 124 league appearances and the physical nature of English football, Okocha was never sent off in a Premier League match.

That puts him in a different category from the Nigerians who have received red cards in England’s top flight.

Awoniyi’s three-match ban

Awoniyi will now miss three Premier League matches, starting with Coventry’s home game against Nottingham Forest on September 19.

That fixture carries an extra storyline because Forest were Awoniyi’s previous Premier League club. He left the City Ground for Coventry after his spell with the club.

The striker will then miss Coventry’s meeting with Aston Villa, before completing his suspension against Newcastle United.

The three-match absence comes at a difficult point for Coventry. Lampard’s team have lost their opening four Premier League matches and scored no goals during that run. Brighton’s 5-0 victory made the start even worse.

Awoniyi had played 181 Premier League minutes across three matches before his dismissal but had not scored. His suspension removes three more opportunities to build match rhythm and confidence.