Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says he shouldn’t have played Gefate midfielder Uche Chrisantus in the Super Eagles 5-4 penalty win over Jamaica in the final of the Unity Cup after a 2-2 draw in regulation time.
Uche arrived the camp of the team late and had just one training session before the final game, after missing the first game against Ghana which they won 2-1 to seal their spot in the final.
Chelle admitted that it was a very difficult decision to play the 22 year old in the game. Something he shouldn’t have done terming it as a crazy decision.
“It was very difficult for Uche because he only arrived on Friday, and I still included him in the group. It was a crazy decision because, under normal circumstances, he shouldn’t have played in that game”, Chelle told Austin Okon Akpan.
“I don’t even know why I put him in the squad. But he wanted to play, and when he stepped onto the pitch, he brought something really important.”
He went further to explain the gut of the midfielder who took the decisive penalty kick without thinking about any consequences like missing it.
“If he had missed, who knows? Everyone is happy now that he scored, but if he hadn’t.maybe it would’ve affected his national team career.
“I’m proud of him because he came in with a smile and a lot of energy”.
Ade Emmanuel
