Eric Chelle Reveals How Victor Osimhen Made Him Cry During AFCON 2025
Super Eagles Coach Reflects on Emotional Exchange with Osimhen During AFCON
Eric Chelle, the head coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, recently shared a poignant moment with striker Victor Osimhen that moved him to tears during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign in Morocco. Chelle discussed the emotional exchange on RMC Sport’s program, After Foot, recalling their conversation before the third-place playoff against Egypt, particularly as Osimhen grappled with an injury.
“I told him that we absolutely had to go for that third place,” Chelle said. “But I could see that he was injured, and things weren’t going well. I told him: ‘I’m proud of what you’ve done since I took over this team. If you ever need me, whatever happens in your life, you call me, and I’ll come.'”
Chelle noted that Osimhen’s heartfelt response profoundly affected him. “He looked at me and said: ‘Coach, maybe you were a small coach, but now you are a great coach.’ At that point, I burst into tears. Honestly, it was hard to go on to training afterward,” he recalled.
Despite his hamstring injury, Osimhen excelled during the tournament, scoring four goals and providing two assists over six matches. His impressive performances earned him a spot in the Confederation of African Football’s Team of the Tournament.
Nigeria had a strong run in AFCON 2025, topping their group with victories over Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. The Super Eagles advanced through the knockout stage, defeating Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16 and Algeria 2-0 in the quarterfinals.
The team’s campaign faced a setback in the semifinals, where they lost to host nation Morocco after a goalless 120 minutes, succumbing to penalties. However, Nigeria bounced back to secure the bronze medal by defeating Egypt 4-2 in another penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw.
Chelle also addressed the circumstances surrounding Osimhen’s absence during the decisive penalty shootout against Morocco. Osimhen had been substituted late in extra time due to concerns about his fitness.
“We take penalty kicks during every training session,” Chelle explained. “I have statistics showing who shoots best and who shoots worst. Before the shootout, Victor came to me and said, ‘Coach, my ankle is really bad, it hurts, and I can’t take a penalty kick.'”
The game’s first penalty was converted by Paul Onuachu, but misses from Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi proved costly, allowing Morocco to proceed to the final. Chelle declined to elaborate on why Alex Iwobi did not take a penalty, stating that internal decisions remain confidential.
He emphasized the importance of accountability among players chosen for penalty taking. “Against Egypt, I picked the ones who take the blame, so they have to be responsible,” he said.
In reflecting on the semi-final defeat, Chelle highlighted the defensive contributions of Calvin Bassey and the performances of full-backs Bruno Onyemaechi and Bright Osayi Samuel. “Calvin and the left-back Bruno Onyemaechi were playing really well,” he noted. “These players might have lost the game, but they tried their best and put in all their effort.”
Chelle described the semifinal against Morocco as one of the most intense matches he’s ever experienced. “The stadium was packed with fans, and it was really chaotic,” he recalled. “I had never seen a match like that before; it was just amazing.”
Both Calvin Bassey and Ademola Lookman, alongside Osimhen, were recognized for their exceptional performances, earning a place in the official Team of the Tournament.
