Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has clarified the decision to substitute star striker Victor Osimhen before Nigeria’s heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the semi-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria and hosts Morocco played out a tense and highly tactical encounter that ended goalless after regulation time, with both sides cancelling each other out in a fiercely contested match. The game eventually went to penalties, where the Atlas Lions edged the Super Eagles to book a place in the final.
Osimhen, who had been one of Nigeria’s standout performers throughout the tournament with four goals, was surprisingly taken off shortly before the penalty shootout and replaced by Paul Onuachu.
The decision sparked widespread debate among fans and analysts, many of whom questioned why the Galatasaray forward, known for his confidence and big-game mentality, was not kept on for penalties.
Addressing the issue after the match, Chelle revealed that the substitution was forced by injury.
According to the Super Eagles coach, Osimhen picked up a minor ankle injury, which raised concerns about his ability to safely continue, especially with the intensity of a penalty shootout.
“Victor had a small injury to his ankle, and that’s why we brought in Paul,” Chelle told reporters. “Paul is statistically one of the best penalty shooters during this period, so we trusted him in that situation.”
Despite Nigeria’s eventual defeat, Chelle’s decision was partly justified as Onuachu successfully converted his penalty, emerging as one of only two Nigerian players to score from the spot.
The Super Eagles’ exit has generated massive reactions across the country, with debates ranging from officiating decisions to tactical choices. Nonetheless, Nigeria’s campaign has been praised for its resilience, with Osimhen finishing as one of the tournament’s top performers despite missing the decisive shootout.
