Osimhen Tried To Play Despite Injury, Coaching Staff Say No – Insider Reveals

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his controversial decision to leave captain William Troost-Ekong on the bench during Nigeria’s penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo, insisting the choice was based on tactical considerations in the match’s closing stages.

The game extended into extra time, and many fans expected Troost-Ekong, regarded as one of Nigeria’s most reliable penalty takers, to take the field. Instead, Chelle opted to bring on Chidozie Awaziem, a move that drew significant criticism on social media platforms.

Speaking to journalists after the match, Chelle emphasized that the decision was carefully considered. “We did a penalty session yesterday. But it was a choice, and if we had acted one hour later, it might have been different,” he said. “I felt we were in danger during the last ten minutes, which is why we brought in another defender. Now, it’s easy to say perhaps the best choice was the captain. Reality is we lost, and I must focus on the next competition.”

Meanwhile, new information has surfaced regarding striker Victor Osimhen. Reports suggest the Napoli forward attempted to play despite a minor hamstring issue. FlashScore editor Shina Oludare revealed that a member of the national team’s technical crew confirmed Osimhen pressed to return after halftime, but the coaching staff declined to risk aggravating his injury ahead of the upcoming AFCON tournament.

“Osimhen was begging to play in the second half despite the injury, but they turned him down to avoid further risk,” Oludare shared on . “Yet some still post baseless opinions online.”