Former Super Eagles coach Sunday Oliseh has once again stirred conversation by overlooking Victor Osimhen in his post-match analysis, choosing instead to praise two other players following Nigeria's crucial Africa Cup of Nations victory.
Nigeria Secures Knockout Berth with Tense Win
The Super Eagles booked their place in the Round of 16 of the 2025 AFCON in Morocco with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Tunisia on Saturday, December 27. The match took place at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, where Nigeria's goals came from a trio of European-based stars.
Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen broke the deadlock just before halftime, heading home a cross from Ademola Lookman in the 44th minute. This marked his first AFCON goal since the 2023 tournament. Captain Wilfred Ndidi of Besiktas doubled the lead early in the second half, powerfully heading in a Lookman corner. Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman then capped a superb personal performance by scoring the third goal in the 67th minute, assisted by Osimhen.
Tunisia mounted a late comeback with goals from Montassar Talbi and a penalty from Ali Abdi, but the Nigerian side held on for a vital three points.
Oliseh's Selective Praise Sparks Debate
Despite Osimhen ending his AFCON goal drought and providing an assist, legendary former midfielder and coach Sunday Oliseh chose not to mention the striker in his assessment. Taking to his social media platform X, the 1994 AFCON winner specifically highlighted the contributions of Ndidi and Lookman.
In his post, Oliseh wrote: "Look man on Fire! 2nd assist and i Personally love Ndidi's attacking the ball to head Naija 2-0 up."
This omission is the second consecutive time Oliseh has ignored Osimhen in his commentary on Nigeria's AFCON matches, fueling speculation and criticism from a section of fans.
Fan Reactions and Broader Critique
The decision by the former Ajax star did not go unnoticed by Nigerian supporters online. Many took to social media to express their bewilderment, with some accusing Oliseh of having a personal bias against the prolific forward.
One user, @badboy_hilz11, commented: "I tell Una say this guy get beef with OSIMHEN. Thank God he ain’t the coach lol." Another, @akwadeltan, simply stated: "See as you ignore Osimhen, we know what you are."
This incident follows earlier criticism from another ex-international, Celestine Babayaro, who pointed out Osimhen's tendency to mistime his runs. However, Osimhen's overall contribution in the match—a goal and an assist—has been widely acknowledged by other pundits and fans as crucial to the team's success.
The Super Eagles' focus now shifts to the knockout stages of the tournament, with team unity and performance taking precedence over individual accolades or external commentaries. The debate surrounding Oliseh's repeated snub of one of Nigeria's key players, however, adds an intriguing subplot to the nation's AFCON campaign.
