Why I Chose Chukwueze, Bruno For Penalty Shootout- Chelle
Super Eagles Coach, Eric Chelle, has explained that he chose Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi for the ill-fated penalty shootout with Morocco because they were among the best in his team.
Chelle also disclosed that striker Victor Osimhen was substituted in the game that Nigeria lost 2-4 to Morocco in the second semifinal of the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday in Rabat via penalty shootout because he was injured and could not move freely during the dying minutes of the game.
Chukwueze and Onyemaechi lost their penalty kicks to hand Morocco the AFCON final ticket in the game that ended 4-2.
Explaining the late change in extra-time that brought in Chukwueze, Paul Onuachu and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Chelle said: “Since the beginning of this Africa Cup of Nations, every day at every training session we have done penalty sessions and statistically the players who took the penalties were the best, and that’s why we made changes to bring in the players who were going to shoot.
“Chukwueze came on to take his penalty, and even though he didn’t score. So, when we saw the match was heading towards penalties, it was when we brought in the players who were shooting the best”.
