It was supposed to be a night of redemption for Samuel Chukwueze and the Super Eagles. Instead, the 2-1 home defeat to Rwanda in Uyo left a sour taste in the mouths of millions of Nigerians . Amidst a slew of disappointing performances, one moment stood out — Chukwueze’s refusal to celebrate his sensational solo goal, a strike that should have been lauded as one of the best in his international career.
The AC Milan winger’s muted reaction: was it a coded message to coach Augustine Eguavoen or a blatant show of disrespect to Nigerian fans? Chukwueze’s goal was a thing of beauty. Picking the ball just past the halfway line, the winger danced through three Rwandan defenders with Messi-esque finesse before unleashing a precise finish into the net. 🚨🇳🇬 CHUKWUEZE SCORES A BEAUTIFUL SOLO GOAL WITH NIGERIA! pic.
twitter.com/UfDfckg4QY It was his first goal for the Super Eagles in over 13 months and his sixth overall. For a player who has faced criticism for inconsistency, this was the perfect opportunity to reconnect with fans and teammates.
Yet, his decision to snub the celebration overshadowed the brilliance of his effort. Speculation quickly mounted that Chukwueze’s actions were directed at coach Augustine Eguavoen, who had largely overlooked him during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. The winger started only two of Nigeria’s five games under Eguavoen, including being an unused substitute in last Thursday’s 1-1 draw against Benin.
If frustration was.