Samuel Chukwueze has been handed an immediate chance to redeem himself as he starts for the Super Eagles against Egypt today in a 2025 AFCON third-place match after the penalty fiasco that cost Nigeria a place in the final of the tournament.
Your #SuperEagles to take on the Pharoahs of Egypt.#EGYNGA #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/6LB8YX4XZ8
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) January 17, 2026
Chukwueze has been roundly abused on social media after his poor penalty kick gave hosts Morocco a huge advantage to win a penalty shootout 4-2 and march on to the AFCON final since 2004.
Today, he gets a second start in the tournament as Nigeria seek to extend their record of eight bronze medals in the competition.
Coach Eric Chelle has made as many as five changes to the starting XI from the Morocco match with Igho Ogbu as expected in for the suspended Calvin Bassey, while Paul Onuachu, Raphael Onyedika and Fisayo Dele Bashiru will also start today.
Goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, fullbacks Bright Osayi-Samuel and Bruno Onyemaechi as well as Semi Ajayi and Jerome Akor keep their places in the first team
The team will be led out by Moses Simon.
Super Eagles Starting XI vs Egypt (4-4-2): Nwabali – Onyemaechi, Osayi-Samuel, Ajayi, Ogbu – Onyedika, Dele-Bashiru, Chukwueze, Moses Simon (Captain) – Onuachu, Akor
