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.
Arsenal beat Chelsea in Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
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.
The Independent National Electoral Commission has listed former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, as the…
The Independent National Electoral Commission has released the final list of 18 presidential candidates and…
Thousands of mourners gathered in Uganda on Saturday to bury King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru…
Three herders and about 50 cattle have been killed in a fresh attack around Aloghom…
Hull City held Chelsea 2-2 at Stamford Bridge to go third in the Premier League…
Zenith Bank has announced that Nigerians in the country and abroad can subscribe to the…
This website uses cookies.