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Eric Chelle Explains Chukwueze, Simon Substitutions After AFCON 2025 Semi-Final Exit
Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has explained the reasoning behind his late substitutions of Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze during Nigeria’s heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The highly anticipated clash ultimately failed to produce goals, ending goalless after regulation time and extra time, with penalties always seeming the likely decider.
With seven minutes remaining in normal time, Chelle introduced Moses Simon, replacing Raphael Onyedika, who had been handed a rare start. The substitution came with captain Wilfred Ndidi suspended, forcing the coach to reshuffle his midfield options.
In the closing moments of extra time, Chelle made another key adjustment, withdrawing Frank Onyeka for Samuel Chukwueze—a move that strongly suggested the winger’s intended role in the looming penalty shootout.
Addressing the decision at his post-match press conference, Chelle was asked whether his substitutions were well-judged.
“Like I said, normally we play a 4-4-2 diamond, and I felt it was difficult to apply high pressure,” the Malian coach explained. “This is why I put Moses in the midfield. After that, I brought on Chukwueze for the penalty session.
“We trained for the penalty kicks, and based on the statistics, the players who took penalties in the shootout were the best over the last month. That is why we put him on the pitch.”
Despite the preparation, the Super Eagles fell short in the shootout, with Chukwueze missing his penalty. The winger was left in tears at full-time and was comforted by teammates and members of the coaching staff as he walked off the pitch following Nigeria’s painful exit from the tournament.
