Why did Victor Osimhen not take Penalty against Morocco?

The Nigeria national football team suffered a painful exit from the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 after losing 4-2 on penalties to the Morocco national football team in an exciting semi final clash on Wednesday night. The match at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium ended 0-0 after 120 minutes of hard fought battle between both teams.

Nigeria's star captain and top striker Victor Osimhen was surprisingly substituted just minutes before the shootout began. Coach Eric Chelle brought on Paul Onuachu in the late stages of extra time, likely to add fresh energy for a possible shootout or late push but this decision surprised everyone as Victor Osimhen penalty conversion is amongst the highest. Additionally the decision sparked controversy as many saw Osimhen as one of the team's most reliable penalty takers.

Why Victor Osimhen Was Excluded From the Penalty Takers List

The Galatasaray striker had been closely marked throughout the game and couldn't deliver the type of performance he had throughout the season which made him stand among the best AFCON 2025 players.

Fans and experts questioned the substitution, calling it a costly mistake that left Nigeria without their talisman in the crucial moment. The decision by Chelle to leave out their star striker was likely due to the player's fatigue after playing for nearly two hours. However his presence in the final moments could have changed the result or at least had a significant impact.

Victor Osimhen Penalty Stats

Victor Osimhen penalty conversion rate has made him the first-choice set-piece taker throughout his career, whether at Napoli or Galatasaray. Excluding him from the list of penalty takers against Morocco was viewed by fans around the world as a major blunder.