Super Eagles head coach, Éric Chelle, has defended Samuel Chukwueze following his penalty miss in Nigeria’s defeat to Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Chukwueze has faced heavy criticism after his weak spot-kick was saved by Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou during the penalty shootout. Nigeria eventually lost 4–2 on penalties after the match ended goalless in regulation time and extra time.
Left-back Bruno Onyemaechi also missed from the spot for the Super Eagles.
Reacting to the backlash, Chelle insisted that Chukwueze remains the most reliable penalty taker in the squad, stressing that the miss should not define his performance or ability.
“Samuel Chukwueze is the best penalty taker in the team. He hardly misses in training – maybe once out of 400 attempts,” Chelle said.
The Malian tactician attributed the miss to pressure and atmosphere, noting that external factors often influence players during high-stakes moments.
“The feeling is different for every player, maybe because of the crowd. If we had taken those penalties in Uyo, Abuja or Lagos, I am sure we would have won,” he added.
Chelle’s comments are aimed at easing pressure on the winger as Nigeria looks ahead to the third-place playoff and future competitions.
