The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has publicly commended Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, choosing to highlight their on-field synergy following a reported heated exchange between the pair during Nigeria's dominant Africa Cup of Nations victory.
The Incident That Sparked Headlines
Nigeria secured a commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 AFCON in Fez, with Lookman and Osimhen central to the triumph. Lookman opened the scoring and was instrumental in creating two more goals for Osimhen, helping the Super Eagles race to a 3-0 lead.
However, the match's narrative shifted in the 63rd minute. Broadcast cameras captured a moment of clear frustration from Victor Osimhen after Ademola Lookman opted not to pass the ball when his strike partner was in a promising position. The Napoli star, visibly upset, pulled away from captain Wilfred Ndidi, pointed towards Lookman, and voiced his displeasure. Lookman, who had already provided an assist and created several chances, responded in kind.
The tension was palpable, and shortly after the exchange, Osimhen requested a substitution and was replaced by Paul Onuachu. Adding to the speculation, Osimhen bypassed the post-match celebrations, heading straight down the tunnel.
CAF's Public Vote of Confidence
In a move seen as calming tensions and focusing on the positive, CAF took to social media a day after the match to celebrate the duo's contributions. The African football body posted a message on X (formerly Twitter) accompanied by a photo of them celebrating together.
The post hailed both former African Footballers of the Year, emphasizing their combined threat with the caption: "Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen, moving as one, ?" This public endorsement serves to downplay the rift and refocus attention on their formidable partnership which has been key to Nigeria's perfect tournament run.
Statistical Dominance Overshadows Disagreement
On the pitch, both players have been in exceptional form for the Super Eagles at AFCON 2025. Ademola Lookman has emerged as a standout performer and a top contender for the Player of the Tournament award, registering an impressive three goals and four assists so far.
Victor Osimhen has also contributed three goals, with two of those strikes being directly assisted by Lookman. Their combined efforts have propelled Nigeria to win all four of their matches in the tournament without conceding a goal in the knockout stage.
Quarterfinal Focus and Coach's Calm
With the incident addressed by CAF's positive spin, the Super Eagles now turn their full attention to the quarterfinals. Nigeria will face the winner of the match between Algeria and DR Congo as they continue their quest for a first AFCON title since 2013.
Earlier, head coach Eric Chelle played down concerns over the rift. Speaking cautiously after the Mozambique match, Chelle made it clear he had no intention of discussing internal team matters publicly, suggesting the issue was being handled within the squad.
The three-time champions, who were finalists in the 2023 edition, will be hoping their on-pitch chemistry remains their defining story as they advance deeper into the competition in Morocco.
