Former Cameroon captain and football legend Rigobert Song has ignited a firestorm of controversy and drawn the ire of Nigerian football fans following his shocking assessment of the country's top stars.
Song's Controversial Ratings Stun African Football
In a viral video interview that surfaced just as the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was commencing, Song was asked to categorize several African footballers as "world-class" or not. His responses left many across the continent, particularly in Nigeria, utterly bewildered.
When the name of Victor Osimhen was mentioned, Song dismissed him with a blunt "no." He readily approved the status of players like Egypt's Mohamed Salah, Algeria's Riyad Mahrez, and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi. The controversy deepened when he also excluded Nigeria's Ademola Lookman from the world-class bracket, while affirming Cameroon's Bryan Mbeumo.
To add more fuel to the fire, Song proceeded to label other attackers, including Amad Diallo, Omar Marmoush, Wilfred Zaha, Patson Daka, and Mbwana Samatta, as world-class. This placed the two Nigerian forwards, who are central to the Super Eagles' AFCON campaign, firmly outside his elite list.
Why Nigerians Are Furious: A Look at the Records
The backlash from Nigerian fans and pundits is rooted in what they see as a glaring disregard for the proven achievements of both Osimhen and Lookman. Supporters argue that Song's comments are not only biased but completely detached from the reality of modern African football.
Victor Osimhen's credentials are particularly stellar. He is the reigning 2023 African Footballer of the Year, a Serie A champion with Napoli where he became the club's all-time top scorer, and recently led Galatasaray to a domestic league and cup double in Turkey. His consistent goal-scoring exploits in Europe's top leagues have long cemented his reputation.
Similarly, Ademola Lookman has etched his name in football history. The Atalanta winger delivered one of the most iconic performances in recent memory by scoring a sensational hat-trick in the 2024 UEFA Europa League final to win the trophy for his club. His form in Italy has been exceptional, making his exclusion from a "world-class" conversation puzzling to many observers.
Nigerian Fans React with Fury and Mockery
Social media platforms, especially X (formerly Twitter), became a battleground as Nigerians unleashed a torrent of criticism against the Cameroonian icon. The reactions ranged from sheer anger to outright mockery.
One user, Forlan, sarcastically posted: "So Samatta and Daka are world class but Lookman and Osimhen are not? E don smoke." This sentiment of disbelief was widespread.
Another fan, Frost, reacted with: "Mbeumo and Diallo is world class but Ademola is not? Even Osimhen is not? Who’s this Temu Snoop Dogg?" The comparison humorously questioned Song's credibility.
The criticism also touched on perceived historical bias. One fan noted: "He was involved in the Nigerian vs Cameroon rivalry for top spots in the 2000s, but with his response, he showed he has no respect for the football that made him great."
User @Kamikaze-pilot highlighted the absurdity by pointing out: "He actually said 2 recent winners of the CAF player of the year award aren’t world class? He’s a hater AF..."
The debate has undoubtedly added an extra layer of spice to the already intense football rivalry between Nigeria and Cameroon, setting the stage for potential high-stakes encounters at the ongoing AFCON 2025 tournament in Morocco.
