By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has explained why he chose not to introduce captain William Troost-Ekong before Nigeria’s penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff.
Chelle faced criticism after leaving the experienced defender on the bench throughout the tense encounter, which ended 1–1 after regulation and extra time before Nigeria fell 4–3 on penalties.
With less than 10 minutes left in extra time, the coach opted for Chidozie Awaziem instead of bringing on Troost-Ekong—a decision that has since generated debate among supporters.
Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone, the Malian tactician insisted his choice was driven by the flow of the game.
“We did a penalty session yesterday, but it was a choice, and if we come back maybe one hour later, it is not the same,” Chelle said.
“I felt we were in danger during the last ten minutes, which is why we put on another defender.
“It is easy now to say maybe the best choice was the captain. It was a decision, and the reality is we lost. I have to be focused on the next competition.”
Nigeria’s defeat means the three-time African champions will miss the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive time.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
