Nigeria’s head coach, Éric Chelle, has once again shielded Samuel Chukwueze from public backlash following the winger’s unsuccessful spot-kick in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals. The Super Eagles suffered a 4-2 penalty shootout defeat to tournament hosts Morocco on Wednesday after 120 minutes of play ended in a scoreless draw. Critics targeted Chukwueze after Morocco’s goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, comfortably saved his effort, while defender Bruno Onyemaechi also failed to convert his attempt for the three-time champions.
Despite the high-profile miss, Chelle insisted that the AC Milan attacker remains the squad’s most proficient penalty specialist. The manager suggested that the overwhelming pressure from the partisan Moroccan crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium likely affected the players’ composure more than any lack of technical skill. He maintained that the outcome would have differed significantly if the match had taken place on Nigerian soil, where home support would have bolstered his players’ confidence.
The coaching staff now shifts its focus to the third-place play-off against Egypt, scheduled for Saturday. Chelle intends to rebuild the morale of his squad as they aim to conclude their continental campaign with a bronze medal. By publicly backing his players, the Malian tactician hopes to mitigate the psychological impact of the semifinal exit and ensure the team remains united for their final fixture in Rabat.
Chelle told reporters: “Samuel Chukwueze is the best penalty taker of the team, he never misses in training, maybe out of 400 but the feeling to take for every player was different, maybe the crowd. I think if we play the penalties in Uyo, Abuja or Lagos, we win for sure.”
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