Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shed light on the physical and tactical difficulties faced by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Raphael Onyedika during Nigeria’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco.
Chelle revealed that Osimhen played through the tournament while managing a hamstring injury that required close supervision by the team’s medical staff. Despite the setback, the Galatasaray striker was one of Nigeria’s standout performers, scoring four goals and registering two assists in six matches, a contribution that earned him a place in the CAF Team of the Tournament.
The coach noted that Osimhen completed the full 90 minutes in only two matches—against Tunisia and Algeria—explaining that fixture congestion and limited recovery time took a toll on the squad, especially in the later stages of the competition.
Speaking on RMC Sport’s After Foot, Chelle detailed the demanding travel schedule, highlighting how the team moved from Marrakesh to Fez and then Rabat within 48 hours, without access to recovery facilities such as cryotherapy chambers.
“At this level, the smallest details matter,” Chelle said, adding that short recovery windows between matches left several players physically drained.
He further confirmed the extent of Osimhen’s injury, explaining that the striker had a minor hamstring tear that had to be carefully managed as the tournament progressed.
Chelle also addressed Ademola Lookman’s condition, noting that although the winger began the tournament strongly, the physical demands eventually caught up with him. He explained that Lookman entered the competition without a consistent run of games earlier in the season, which later affected his endurance.
Lookman was one of Nigeria’s most influential players during the group stage, contributing goals, assists, and relentless attacking runs. However, Chelle admitted that signs of fatigue became evident during the knockout rounds.
Despite the physical challenges, Lookman’s AFCON performances helped earn him a move to Atlético Madrid, where he marked his debut with a goal and an assist.
The Super Eagles coach also reflected on Raphael Onyedika’s difficult performance in Nigeria’s semifinal loss to Morocco on penalties. Onyedika started in place of suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi but struggled as Morocco dominated possession in midfield.
Chelle explained that Ndidi and Onyedika offer different tactical profiles, with Ndidi excelling as an aggressive ball-winner, while Onyedika is better suited to systems that rely on positional discipline and intercepting passing lanes.
Although he admitted Onyedika was less effective than Ndidi in the semifinal, Chelle praised the midfielder’s tactical intelligence and overall quality, insisting he remains a valuable player.
Nigeria ended the tournament on a positive note, claiming the bronze medal after defeating Egypt 4–2 on penalties following a goalless draw, rounding off a demanding but memorable AFCON campaign for the Super Eagles.