Mercy Akide predicts Chukwueze's penalty miss against Morocco
Former Nigeria international Mercy Akide revealed she knew Samuel Chukwueze would miss his penalty kick against Morocco in the AFCON semifinals. Morocco progressed to the final after beating Nigeria in a penalty shootout where Chukwueze and Bruno Onyemaechi both failed to score. Chukwueze, brought on in stoppage time specifically for the penalty, saw his shot saved by Morocco's Yassine Bounou. Speaking on the ATHLST podcast, Akide said Chukwueze's body language as he approached the spot showed he was overwhelmed by the stadium noise. She noted that penalty takers who stroll to the ball or lean without confidence usually struggle. Akide defended Chukwueze, stating the pressure was immense and it's a difficult situation for any player. She emphasized that he shouldn't be blamed, as he was the only Nigerian player to miss in the shootout. The Super Falcons veteran, who is also married to former Super Eagles player Colin, told her husband she was scared when she saw Chukwueze's approach. She advised that young players like Chukwueze need support, not criticism, after missing crucial kicks. This AFCON analysis comes as Nigerian fans continue to process the heartbreaking semifinal loss to Morocco.