Osas Aikhomu
Afrobeat star Seun Kuti has publicly supported Super Eagles winger Samuel Chukwueze following backlash over a crucial penalty miss in Nigeria’s AFCON semi-final defeat.
The Super Eagles crashed out of the tournament after losing 2-0 to Morocco in Wednesday’s tense penalty shootout, with Chukwueze being one of two Nigerian players who failed to convert.
Following Nigeria’s disappointing exit, fans took to social media to express their frustration, specifically targeting Chukwueze for his missed penalty kick.
Coming to the player’s defense, Kuti reminded critics that even legendary Brazilian footballer Pelé had penalty misses during his career, emphasizing that missed opportunities are part of the game.
The musician took to Instagram with a powerful statement in Pidgin English: “Dem no be machine! Even Pelé miss penalty before. Make una free Chukwueze.”
Nigeria will now shift focus to their upcoming third-place playoff against Egypt, while Morocco advances to face Senegal in Sunday’s highly anticipated tournament finale.
