Super Eagles: Chelle reveals why Onyedika struggled in Ndidi’s absence vs Morocco

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has revealed why Club Brugge midfielder Raphael Onyedika struggled in Nigeria's AFCON 2025 semi-final against Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports.

Ndidi started the first two group games for Nigeria at the AFCON 2025 tournament, while Onyedika came in for the final group game against Uganda.

The Club Brugge midfielder took his chance, scoring a brace against the Ugandans as Nigeria cruised into the knockout stages with a 100% record.

Ndidi came into the mix for the knockout stages, but an accumulation of yellow cards saw the Super Eagles captain suspended for the semi-final against Morocco.

Wilfred Ndidi celebrates his first-ever goal for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in their 3-2 win over Tunisia. Credit: Victor ModoxImago

Onyedika replaced the ex-Leicester City man in the starting lineup, but struggled to match the intensity of the matchup against the host nation.

The 24-year-old picked up a yellow card before he was withdrawn in the 83rd minute, replaced by Moses Simon.

The Super Eagles held on to the game until the penalty shoot-out. Samuel Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi missed from twelve yards to send Morocco to the final.

Raphael Onyedika during the Africa Cup of Nations Quarter-final match between Algeria and Nigeria at Marrakesh Stadium. Copyright: xSFSIxImago

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Why Onyedika struggled in Ndidi's absence – Eric Chelle

Quizzed about the impact of Ndidi's absence on Nigeria's performance against Morocco, the Franco-Malian tactician revealed it affected the Super Eagles' press.

“We didn't have Wilfred Ndidi, who is the captain. We press where I have five players who are the first line of defence on the press. We have Ndidi, who secures everything.” Eric Chelle said on RMC Sport's After Foot.

Eric Chelle looks on during the Africa Cup of Nations match between Mozambique and Nigeria at Fes Stadium on January 5, 2026, in Fes, Morocco. Photo by Thor Wegner/DeFodi ImagesxImago

Chelle highlighted that the midfielders present in the Nigerian squad are of different players, hence, not all of them will suit a certain system.

“There are two different profiles. You are going to be Raphael Onyedika, or you're going to be a profile who plays more in a system where you are going to have wingers, 4-4-2, 4-2-3-1, and you're going to be more of a mid-block, and you're going to cut out passes.”

“He [Onyedika] is very intelligent in his tactical reading, but Wilfred is a profile where he goes to the players and recovers the ball from the feet of the opponents. So they are two different profiles.

“In this match [against Morocco], he was indeed less good than Ndidi, but he's still a great player.

“He was good against Marseille [in the UEFA Champions League], wasn't he? And I even thought he was going to be transferred during the January transfer window,” the former RC Lens defender concluded.

Raphael Onyedika of Club Brugge scores his team's first goal to make it 1-0 during the UEFA Champions League match between Manchester City and Club Brugge. [Photo Credit/ Imago].

Onyedika was in a transfer tussle between two clubs – Galatasaray and Aston Villa during the winter transfer window, but Club Brugge were unwilling to sanction a move.