Nigeria Coach Faces Backlash for Osimhen Substitution in World Cup Qualifying Defeat

Eric Chelle, Nigeria's coach, made a surprising decision to substitute Victor Osimhen at halftime in a World Cup qualifying playoff loss to DR Congo. Osimhen, a key striker for Nigeria, was replaced by Akor Adam, leading to questions from fans and analysts.

Despite the substitution, Nigeria eventually drew 1-1 after 120 minutes. DR Congo's Mechak Elia canceled out Frank Onyeka's opener, and Noah Sadiki admitted that Osimhen's injury changed the game's momentum in favor of DR Congo.

The match went into extra time, with DR Congo securing a ticket to the intercontinental playoff in March 2026.