Nigerian midfielder Frank Onyeka has disclosed that head coach Eric Chelle usually decides the penalty takers and then checks with the players to be sure they can handle the pressure whenever the team faces a penalty shootout, SportPremi reports.
The Super Eagles played two penalty shootout at the recently-concluded 2025 African Cup of Nations tournament, winning one and losing another.
The team also suffered an agonizing defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final last November, when their hopes of playing at the FIFA World Cup later this year was ended by a penalty shootout loss.
At the AFCON tournament in Morocco, Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed their attempts from 12 yards as they suffered another defeat to the hosts in the semifinal stage.
However, they banished their shootout demons against Egypt in the bronze medal match, sealing victory via their second penalty shootout of the tournament, this time with goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali making two saves to lead them to victory.
Onyeka opens up on Super Eagles selection penalty takers selection
Frank Onyeka who enjoyed an impressive showing for Nigeria at the AFCON tournament, has opened up about how the penalty takers are selected in the course of a shootout.
“I’ve never kicked one in my life. They don’t pick me, but I also try not to involve myself. However, it’s something I need to work on, because I need to trust myself when another opportunity comes”, Onyeka revealed.
“Sometimes, the coach asks who wants to take, and other times, he makes the decision, and if you’re not feeling up to it, you can opt out, but most times, the players choose.”
The Brentford midfielder also reflected on the defeat to Morocco at the semifinal stage. He acknowledged the quality of the hosts, but blamed the officials for a poor showing in the encounter.
“I think in that game, tactically, they were very good, they knew what we were going to do and tried to close us down”, he continued.
“Also, the referee made it easy for them because when we had our moment, he tried to cut it off, and that killed our momentum, and gave the Moroccans everything.
“That was why it was different. Morocco were very good, I’ll give that to them.”
Onyeka will return to action with Brentford this weekend, hoping to play a part when they face Nottingham Forest in the English Premier League on Sunday.
