There is growing tension in the Super Eagles camp following Samuel Chukwueze’s missed penalty in the semifinal defeat to host nation Morocco, with several players reportedly unhappy over his conduct after the incident.
Sports Vanguard gathered that many players, particularly senior members of the team, are displeased with Chukwueze and have shown visible disdain towards him, even as the third-place match against Egypt is expected to keep the situation from escalating.
Sources close to the team said Chukwueze’s approach to the penalty and his reaction after missing it angered teammates. He was seen chewing gum before taking the kick and appeared unemotional afterwards, a demeanor some players reportedly considered unprofessional.
“Any player can miss a penalty; even Bruno has missed before. But Chukwueze’s emotions after the miss got some of the senior players pissed off. He was not professional with his behavior,” a source disclosed.
It was also learned that Chukwueze was not originally scheduled to feature in the semifinal due to a groin injury. According to a source, the decision to include him in the match surprised members of the team.
“Nobody really knows why the coach decided to feature him in the match. He wasn’t billed for the game because of a groin injury,” the source said.
However, another source defended the decision, revealing that Chukwueze was among the most reliable penalty takers during training sessions, converting all his attempts, while Victor Osimhen reportedly struggled from the spot in practice.
“The Super Eagles always practised penalties, and Chukwueze was one of the best in training. He was making 10 out of 10,” the source said, adding that this influenced the coaching staff’s decision to include him in the shootout.
