Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has expressed confusion over the penalty awarded against Nigeria in the closing minutes of their win over Tunisia in Fez, Morocco.

The controversial moment occurred late in the second half when Malian referee Boubou Traoré, following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, ruled that Bright Osayi-Samuel handled the ball inside the penalty area, leading to a spot kick for Tunisia.

Speaking after the match, Chelle admitted he was unsure about the decision and the interpretation of the handball rule. 

“I don't know, I didn't see the penalty and the video but the reality is I don't know the rules,” he said. 

The Nigerian coach pointed to what he described as inconsistencies in how handball decisions are judged, especially when the ball makes contact with another part of the body before touching the hand.

“Because sometimes there is a hand, they told us that if the ball touches the body before the hand, there's no hand or something.”

Despite his frustration, Chelle refused to dwell excessively on the referee’s decision, instead highlighting the positive impact of his tactical choices during the match.

“I don't know the rules, like your friend said, my substitute brought the goal, you have your vision.”

Chelle concluded by stressing the need for improvement, particularly in defensive situations.

“If you want, you can speak to me one day and I will explain my vision. For me, this is the game fact and once again, we have to improve from the set pieces.”

The win saw Nigeria reclaim top spot in Group C with six points from two matches, while Tunisia dropped to second place on three points.

Following the 1–1 draw between Uganda and Tanzania, the Super Eagles have now qualified for the knockout stage with one group game remaining. 

However, Nigeria will need to avoid defeat against Uganda in their final match to finish top of the group and secure a more favourable route in the knockout phase.  

Adeyemi Adewale