'He was tormenting you guys' - Eguavoen explains why he chose to substitute Chukwueze v Rwanda 

Nigeria's caretaker coach Augustine Eguavoen has revealed the truth behind the substitution of Samuel Chukwueze during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Rwanda on Tuesday afternoon.

Chukwueze was brought off at halftime, with Nantes winger Moses Simon taking his place.

Eguavoen has made it clear that the AC Milan star had to be replaced because he was walking a disciplinary tightrope and not because of his performance. 

Chukwueze earned a yellow card in the 26th minute for arguing with Moroccan referee Karim Sabry, and with the threat of a second yellow for a tackle or further dissent, Eguavoen chose to replace the number 11 at the break.

During the post-match press conference, the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner offered an explanation for Chukwueze's substitution at Stade Amahoro in Kigali. 

"He's very good, he's one of our good players. Today, we came up with a strategy, he got a yellow card and he was tormenting you guys," Eguavoen told reporters.

"We had three players on yellow cards so it's kind of a risk also. We have to make some substitutions and we have players who can go forward also.

"We thought Chukwueze should rest not because he's not playing well, because of the risk of getting a second yellow card."

Chukwueze was not the only Super Eagles player replaced at halftime as reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen entered the fray, with Victor Boniface making way. 

In the race for AFCON qualifying, Nigeria lead the way in Group D with four points, followed by Gernot Rohr's Benin who defeated Libya 2-1 at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan on Tuesday night.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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