Tension lingers in the Super Eagles camp following Samuel Chukwueze’s missed penalty against host nation Morocco, with the upcoming third-place match against Egypt doing little to ease frustrations.

According to sources, several players have expressed displeasure at Chukwueze’s demeanor during and after the penalty. Observers noted that the Fulham loanee appeared nonchalant, even chewing gum before taking the kick, and his reaction post-miss reportedly angered some of the senior team members.

“Any player can miss a penalty—after all, even Bruno missed—but Chukwueze’s reaction was unprofessional. It frustrated senior players,” said a source close to the team.

Chukwueze reportedly was not originally scheduled to play in the semifinal against Morocco due to a groin injury, leaving some teammates questioning the coach’s decision to field him.

Despite the controversy, another insider highlighted that Chukwueze excelled in penalty practice, often converting all ten of his attempts in training sessions. In contrast, Victor Osimhen, despite being the team’s usual penalty taker at club level, reportedly struggled during training. “Chukwueze was chosen for the shootout because of his consistent practice record,” the source explained.

While the missed kick has sparked debate and tension, team management and players will now turn their attention to the third-place match against Egypt, hoping to move past the incident.