Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his decision to leave Samuel Chukwueze out of the starting line-up in Nigeria’s previous game, Soccernet.ng reports.
On loan at Fulham from AC Milan, the Nigerian attacker headed into AFCON 2025 in fine shape. He posted six Premier League goal contributions before the tournament, scoring twice and laying on four assists.
He carried that momentum into the clash with Tanzania, catching the eye during his 59-minute outing by completing six successful dribbles, engaging in 13 duels and making four touches inside the opposition area, repeatedly putting the Tanzanian backline under pressure.
Meanwhile, regarding his omission, the Malian coach insists that tactical demands and team balance guided his decision.
What Eric Chelle said on Chukwueze's omission
Speaking during his pre-match press conference ahead of Nigeria’s final Group C fixture against Uganda, Chelle addressed growing questions over Chukwueze’s role after the winger started the last match on the bench.
The Super Eagles coach, responding to a question from Soccernet.ng, explained that his selection was influenced by the specific requirements of the Tunisia game, where Nigeria adopted a more aggressive approach without possession of the ball.
“I can’t give you an explanation, the best explanation is for the player,” Chelle said. “I already gave an answer in the last press conference against Tanzania.
“We have to play with the ball, and against Tunisia we had to be very aggressive against this team, and I made a choice.”
Watch what Eric Chelle said here:
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‘The group and the victory come first’ – Chelle
Chelle acknowledged that squad decisions inevitably create mixed emotions within the camp but stressed that collective success outweighs individual disappointment.
“Some players are not happy, some players are happy, but the most important thing is the group and the victory,” he added.
The former Lens defender also reassured fans that Chukwueze remains an important part of his plans and insisted that the AC Milan winger will get further opportunities during the tournament.
“Every player will have another chance to show what they can bring to this team,” Chelle said. “Chukwueze will have another chance to show what he can bring, and for sure, his quality.”
Rotation still possible against Uganda
Nigeria have already secured qualification to the knockout stage with two wins from two games, and Chelle has repeatedly emphasised that AFCON success depends on squad depth rather than a fixed starting XI.
The Super Eagles head coach has hinted that rotation remains an option against Uganda as he balances tactical needs and long-term tournament goals.
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Nigeria face Uganda in their final group game on Tuesday, with the Super Eagles aiming to finish the group stage strongly ahead of the knockout rounds.
