Nigeria talisman Victor Osimhen has issued a passionate appeal to his teammates and Nigerians, urging them to forgive Samuel Chukwueze following the winger’s penalty miss against Morocco in the semi-final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Chukwueze’s missed spot-kick proved costly in Nigeria’s defeat, drawing criticism in some quarters. However, Osimhen has moved swiftly to rally support around the Fulham attacker, calling for unity and understanding.
In a message shared on his X (formerly Twitter) account and amplified across fan platforms including #VictorOsimhenFanPage1, #SuperEagles, #OneTeamOneNation, #FootballFamily and #ProudOfOurBoys, the Galatasaray striker urged Nigerians to put the painful moment behind them and move forward together.
“Guys, please let’s all forgive Chukwueze,” Osimhen wrote. “He’s still one of us, still a Super Eagle, and still gave his all for Nigeria.
“Penalties are never easy—even the best have missed before. Today it’s pain, tomorrow it can be glory.
“Stand by our own. Support matters now more than ever. We move together. Always.”
Osimhen’s message has since been widely praised by fans, with many commending the striker for promoting unity, compassion, and solidarity within the Super Eagles family following a difficult moment at the tournament.
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.
