Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has defended his decision not to introduce captain William Troost-Ekong during Nigeria’s penalty shootout loss to DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers playoff in Morocco.
Chelle opted to bring on Chidozie Awaziem in the last ten minutes
He said the decision was guided strictly by tactical judgment, saying that although the squad had practiced penalties the day before, dynamics often shift in ways that cannot be predicted.
Chelle also says that his attention has already turned to preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.