Super Eagles manager Eric Chelle has addressed the widespread confusion regarding Victor Osimhen’s absence during Nigeria’s heart-wrenching semifinal exit at the Africa Cup of Nations. The Nigerian squad fell 4–2 to Morocco in a penalty shootout after 120 minutes of play, sparking immediate debate over the decision to withdraw the team’s star striker in the final moments of extra time. Chelle confirmed that the Galatasaray forward approached the technical bench to signal his inability to continue due to a fitness concern.
The substitution saw Trabzonspor frontman Paul Onuachu enter the fray, effectively removing Osimhen from the list of available kickers for the shootout. While Onuachu successfully converted the opening penalty for Nigeria, subsequent misses by Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved fatal to the Super Eagles’ championship dreams. Chelle defended the tactical shift by explaining that his decisions rely on a combination of player feedback and rigorous training ground data.
“We take penalty kicks during every training session. I have stats showing who shoots best and who shoots worst,” Eric Chelle said on RMC Sport’s After Foot.
The manager emphasized that the technical crew monitors penalty performance daily to ensure the most reliable options take responsibility during high-pressure scenarios. Despite the statistical backing, the loss to the Atlas Lions remains a bitter pill for Nigerian supporters to swallow. Morocco capitalized on the lapses to advance to the final, while Chelle’s men had to settle for a third-place playoff spot.
This clarification shifts the narrative from a purely tactical error to a forced medical necessity at a critical juncture of the tournament. The Super Eagles coaching staff now turns their attention to the recovery of key personnel as they analyze the overall performance in Morocco. The revelation highlights the immense physical toll the tournament exerted on the continent’s top athletes throughout the knockout stages.
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