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Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, has defended his decision to introduce Samuel Chukwueze specifically for Nigeria’s penalty shootout against Morocco, saying the move was informed by training performance and statistical analysis.

Nigeria were denied a place in the final on Wednesday after losing 4–2 on penalties to tournament hosts Morocco, following a tense semi-final clash that ended goalless after 120 minutes.

Chukwueze was brought on late in extra time and did not feature during open play, with his only involvement being his missed spot-kick in the shootout. Bruno Onyemaechi also failed to convert, as Morocco emerged victorious from the penalties.

The decision to introduce Chukwueze for the shootout sparked widespread criticism from Nigerian fans on social media, with many questioning Chelle’s judgment.

However, addressing the issue during his post-match press conference, Chelle insisted the decision was purely data-driven.

“I put Chukwueze in for the penalty session because we worked extensively on penalties in all our training sessions,” Chelle said.

“Based on the statistics, the players who took penalties were the best performers during training and warm-ups. That is why those players were on the pitch.”

The coach further explained that every Super Eagles player selected to take a penalty ranked among the most reliable takers during practice.

The defeat rekindled painful memories for Nigerian fans, as penalty shootouts have recently dashed the country’s hopes on major stages.

In November 2025, the Super Eagles also suffered heartbreak after losing 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in the final of the African playoffs , a result that ultimately cost Nigeria a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.