Osimhen played with injury during AFCON in Morocco – Chelle

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle has revealed forward Victor Osimhen pushed to play at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco despite struggling with an injury.

According to the Malian tactician, Osimhen was suffering from a hamstring injury but he stayed focused and represented the Super Eagles. Osimhen scored four goals for Nigeria, providing two assists in six matches.

“After the game against Algeria, which we played in Marrakesh, we travelled back to Fez, then from Fez we went to Rabat, and we played another match just 48 hours later,” said Chelle as quoted by RMS Sports.

Osimhen had a small tear in his hamstring

“So, we didn’t have a cryotherapy chamber with us to recover.”

“It’s true that the recovery was really tough. We flew from Marrakesh to Rabat, but at this level, it’s really the small details that matter.

“After two training sessions, some rest after the game, and another training session before the next match, the team felt really tired.”

Chelle continued: “If you watch the match, Akor (Adam) looks really tired; he missed a lot of balls. Victor (Osimhen) is complicated because people need to know he played in the Africa Cup of Nations while injured.

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

Onyedika was less effective as Ndidi replacement

Chelle further admitted Raphael Onyedika struggled during Nigeria’s semifinal defeat to Morocco on penalties. Onyedika took over the armband in place of captain Wilfred Ndidi, who was suspended.

“We don’t have Wilfred Ndidi who is captain. We press where I have five players who are the first line of defence on the press. We have Ndidi who secures everything.

“There are two different profiles. 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 a mid-block and you’re going to cut out passes.”

Chelle added: “In this match, it’s true that he (Onyedika) was 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 finished third in the AFCON to win bronze after beating Egypt in the third-place play off.