The Super Eagles’ exit from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations has ignited a firestorm of mixed reactions among Nigerian football supporters following Wednesday’s semi-final defeat to Morocco. Nigeria fell 4-2 in a clinical penalty shootout after enduring 120 minutes of goalless action at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
While a segment of the fanbase praised the team’s resilience against the host nation, a significant portion of the public directed intense frustration toward specific players and the technical crew.
Samuel Chukwueze bears the brunt of the criticism after Yassine Bounou saved his spot-kick, alongside teammate Bruno Onyemaechi. The Fulham winger’s performance and penalty technique prompted several fans on social media to demand his immediate retirement from the national team.
Critics argued that experienced players like Chukwueze should have shown more composure, while others questioned why high-profile stars such as Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, and Alex Iwobi did not participate in the shootout.
“The Super Eagles of Nigeria gave everything against Morocco, it’s never easy playing in such an atmosphere! Kudos to the team for a brilliant competition, and kudos to Éric Chelle for an excellent tournament. The boys gave it their all, but it wasn’t meant to be. Up Nigeria,” posted @nwanzekwejnr on X.
Conversely, disgruntled supporters like @TOPIC_1229 attacked the coach’s preparation, stating, “God will punish those big players for not stepping out for penalty, I hope they change them and our coach too. A lady was interviewing him before the match and asked him how much he prepared our player for penalty, he with this only God can save us. Imagine pushing over to extra minutes and loosing to penalty same mistake every time.”
While the atmosphere at viewing centers across Nigeria remained somber, many fans still expressed immense pride in the squad’s overall journey. Supporters like @simplymsnobody offered words of encouragement, saying, “Congratulations my boys. No we are so proud of you. You guys did everything and trust me we are entertained. Next one will be ours. You guys are the best team in AFCON no team comes close.”
However, the anger toward the veteran winger remained a dominant theme. User @Itata_9 vented, “This is Chukwueze’s fault! What is wrong with him? We had the momentum. You’ll be in camp cracking jokes that you’ll get MOTM if you play. Now that you’ve been given the opportunity to step up for your country, that’s what you do? With all your experience! What kind of stupid walk-up and soft shot is that? Absolute nonsense! I can’t blame Bruno because he was the one under pressure and he at least kicked a good shot. Just terrible! This was our cup just like 2023 and we fumbled AGAIN.”
The Super Eagles must now regroup for the third-place play-off against Egypt on Saturday. As Eric Chelle prepares his squad for the bronze-medal match, the debate regarding team chemistry and individual accountability continues to dominate the national conversation. Many fans, including prominent social media influencers, insist that the team possesses individual talent but lacks the collective cohesion necessary to win major tournaments.
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