Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has opened up on the physical and tactical challenges faced by Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika during Nigeria’s campaign at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco (AFCON).

Eric Chelle revealed that Victor Osimhen played through the tournament while managing a hamstring injury, a setback that required careful monitoring by the team’s medical staff.

Despite the issue, the Galatasaray striker remained one of the competition’s standout players, scoring four goals and providing two assists in six appearances, earning a place in the Confederation of African Football’s Team of the Tournament.

Osimhen completed the full 90 minutes in only two of Nigeria’s six matches, both against Tunisia and Algeria. Chelle explained that fixture congestion and limited recovery time affected the team’s physical condition, particularly during the latter stages of the competition.

“After the match against Algeria, which we played in Marrakesh, we went back to Fez, and from Fez we went to Rabat, and we played again in 48 hours. So we didn’t have a cryotherapy chamber with us to recover,” Eric Chelle said on RMC Sport’s After Foot.

“It’s true that the recovery was very difficult. We went from Marrakesh to Rabat by plane, but at this level, it’s really the small details. After two training sessions, a little recovery after the match, and a training session before the next match, they were tired.”

He also confirmed the extent of Osimhen’s injury, noting how it impacted his performance as the tournament progressed.

“If you watch the match, Akor is very tired; he lost a lot of balls. Victor is complicated because people need to know he played in the Africa Cup of Nations injured,” Chelle said.

“He had a small tear in his hamstring, so it was necessary to manage it.”

Osimhen captained Nigeria in matches against Uganda and Morocco but was left out of the third-place playoff against Egypt, although he remained part of the matchday squad.

Chelle also addressed Ademola Lookman’s physical condition, explaining that the winger’s heavy workload eventually took its toll despite an impressive start to the tournament. He pointed out that Lookman entered the competition without consistent game time early in the season, which later affected his stamina.

“Ademola Lookman, his start to the season in September, he did not play much either,” Chelle said on the programme.

Lookman went on to become one of Nigeria’s most influential players in the group stage, delivering goals, assists and relentless attacking runs.

“He gave his all in this group phase, he was very good. So exceptional, very, very good,” Chelle added.

However, the coach acknowledged that fatigue began to show in the knockout rounds.

“And in the quarterfinals, if you look closely at the match, physically he’s good but starts to falter a little and it’s true we felt they were tired,” he said.

Lookman’s strong Afcon performances later earned him a move to Atlético Madrid, where he marked his debut with both a goal and an assist.

Raphael Onyedika had a difficult time replacing Ndidi – Eric Chelle
Chelle also reflected on Raphael Onyedika’s difficult outing during Nigeria’s semifinal defeat to Morocco on penalties. The Club Brugge midfielder started in place of suspended captain Wilfred Ndidi but struggled to control the midfield as Morocco dominated possession.

“We don’t have Wilfred Ndidi who is the captain. We press where I have five players who are the first line of defence on the press. We have Ndidi who secures everything.” Eric Chelle said on RMC Sport’s After Foot.

He explained that Ndidi and Onyedika offer different tactical profiles and are suited to different systems.

“There are two different profiles,” the coach said. “You are going to be Raphael Onyedika or you’re going to be a profile who plays more in a system where you are going to have wingers, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, and you’re going to be more of a mid-block and you’re going to cut out passes.”

Despite acknowledging Onyedika’s struggles in the semifinal, Chelle praised his intelligence and overall quality.

“He is very intelligent in his tactical reading but Wilfred is a profile where he goes to the players and recovers the ball from the feet of the opponents. So they are two different profiles,” Eric Chelle said.

“In this match, he was indeed less good than Ndidi, but he’s still a great player. He was good against Marseille, wasn’t he? And I even thought he was going to be transferred.”

Nigeria eventually finished the tournament on a positive note, securing the bronze medal after defeating Egypt 4-2 on penalties following a goalless draw in regular time, bringing an end to a demanding but memorable AFCON campaign for the Super Eagles.