Famous Nigerian musician Seun Kuti has come to the defense of Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze following Nigeria’s elimination from the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) semifinal.
Nigeria fell to host nation Morocco on penalties after a 0-0 draw on Wednesday, ending their hopes of reaching the final. Chukwueze, along with teammate Bruno, missed crucial penalty kicks, while Morocco successfully converted all theirs.
The missed penalties sparked a wave of criticism on social media, with many Nigerians blaming Chukwueze for the team’s defeat.
However, Seun Kuti urged the public to stop targeting the young player, citing that even legendary footballers sometimes miss penalties. Writing in Pidgin English on his Instagram story, the singer said:
“Even Pele dey miss penalty. Leave Chukwueze alone.”
With Nigeria now set to face Egypt in the third-place playoff on Saturday, Morocco will meet Senegal in the AFCON final on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
Seun Kuti’s intervention highlights a call for fairness and perspective as fans continue to debate the Super Eagles’ performance in the tournament.
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