Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has justified his decision to introduce Samuel Chukwueze shortly before the penalty shootout against Morocco, despite the winger missing his spot kick in Nigeria’s semi-final defeat.
Nigeria bowed out of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Wednesday after losing 4-2 on penalties to Morocco, following a goalless draw after extra time.
Misses from Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved decisive as the Eagles failed to secure a place in the final.
Chukwueze was brought on late in extra time, specifically for the shootout, and did not feature significantly during open play.
His missed penalty sparked criticism from fans on social media, many of whom questioned Chelle’s tactical decision.
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Addressing the issue at his post-match press conference, Chelle said the substitution was based on performance data from training sessions, insisting Chukwueze ranked among the team’s most reliable penalty takers.
He said: “We worked extensively on penalties in training.
“Based on the statistics from those sessions, Chukwueze and the others who took penalties were the best performers. That is why they were on the pitch.”
The defeat continues Nigeria’s recent struggles in penalty shootouts.
In November 2025, the Super Eagles also saw their hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup dashed after a 4-3 shootout loss to DR Congo in the African playoff final.
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