Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi has made his first social media statement following a controversial on-field clash between star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman. The incident occurred during Nigeria's dominant 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The Heated Exchange That Overshadowed Victory
Despite a commanding performance and goals from Osimhen (two), Lookman, and Akor Adams, the match was marred by a second-half argument between the two attackers. Video footage circulating online shows a furious exchange, with Osimhen reportedly shoving captain Ndidi away when he tried to intervene. The Napoli striker then asked to be substituted, a request manager Eric Chelle granted.
Osimhen's actions continued post-match, as he avoided the team huddle, skipped media duties, and was the first player to the team bus, followed closely by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau. This sequence of events shifted focus from the comprehensive win to internal team discord.
Ndidi's Telling Instagram Post
Initially downplaying the rift in his post-match press conference, Ndidi struck a different tone on his official Instagram page. The Besiktas midfielder, who many felt was disrespected by Osimhen's shove, shared a post with a caption that carefully shifted attention back to the football.
"Great performance from the team, unto that next round," Ndidi wrote, making no direct reference to the confrontation. This public message stands in contrast to his earlier verbal comments where he framed the intensity as a competitive desire for more goals.
Teammates and Officials Attempt to Calm Waters
Other senior players moved quickly to manage the fallout. Defender Chidozie Awaziem described the incident as "just a football thing" and insisted the issue was resolved.
"Victor is cool. Ademola is cool. Ndidi is cool. Everyone is good. So we just focus on the next game now. We don't have any issues with us," Awaziem stated. Lookman himself has reacted to the clash, which reportedly stemmed from a missed passing opportunity during the game.
The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and team management are handling the matter internally. As of now, the other player involved in the on-pitch dressing down from Osimhen has not made any public statement. The Super Eagles will hope the focus returns fully to their AFCON quarter-final challenge as they aim to progress further in the tournament.
