Efan Ekoku: Former AFCON Champion Slams Aston Villa's John McGinn for Bad Tackle on Destiny Udogie

• Efan Ekoku has slammed John McGinn for his dangerous tackle on Destiny Udogie
• The Aston Villa captain was sent off in a Premier League match against Tottenham
• Despite showing signs of pain, the Italian-Nigerian managed to complete the game

Former Africa Cup of Nations champion, Efan Ekoku, didn't mince his words when he condemned Aston Villa captain, John McGinn, for his reckless tackle during the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur at Villa Park on Sunday, March 10.

McGinn's moment of madness came 19 minutes into the second half, resulting in a straight red card for his wild challenge on Italian-Nigerian defender Destiny Udogie.

With no intention of playing the ball, the Scottsman’s tackle targeted Udogie's legs, disrupting a potential Spurs counterattack.

Before his dismissal, Unai Emery’s men were trailing by two goals, courtesy of strikes from James Maddison and Brennan Johnson. The numerical disadvantage only compounded Villa’s woes, making a comeback seem even more daunting.

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Ekoku, providing commentary for the Premier League world feed, didn't hold back in his criticism of McGinn's actions.

"Wild indiscipline. Two goals down, yes it's a long, long way back. Awful challenge. This is not going to be overturned. He's a popular player John McGinn when he is being applauded off the field by the supporters but in truth it's a terrible decision. It's just a poor challenge,” said Ekoku, as quoted by All Nigeria Soccer.

Although the 21-year-old initially rose to his feet after the incident, he later succumbed to the pain and returned to the ground. Despite the injury scare, the resilient defender completed the full 90 minutes of play, marking his 23rd appearance in the league.

Taking to social media after the game, Udogie displayed his determination, captioning an Instagram post with the words, "Taking control. Staying focused. Doing the job,” as reported by Football London.

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In addition to managing his injury, the left-back also stepped up to assist substitute Radu Dragusin following an injury to Micky van de Ven.

Ultimately, Spurs won 4-0 with goals from Son Heung-min and Timo Werner in stoppage time.

Who exactly is Destiny Udogie?

Sports Brief profiled Udogie's personal life and background, including who his parents were and his net worth.

He was born on November 28, 2002, in Verona, Italy.

His listed height is 1.87m (6'2"), and his weight is 67kg.