Former Nigeria captain and coach Sunday Oliseh has sparked fresh debate by highlighting the contribution of one player in the Super Eagles' emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique, while conspicuously overlooking the goalscoring hero of the match, Victor Osimhen.
Oliseh's Persistent Snub of Osimhen
In Nigeria's Round of 16 clash at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, the team delivered a commanding performance to secure a quarterfinal berth. The match, played on Monday, January 5, 2026, at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, saw goals from Ademola Lookman, a brace from Victor Osimhen, and a late strike from Akor Adams.
Despite Osimhen's decisive double, Oliseh, serving as a pundit on CAF TV, focused his praise elsewhere. This marks the fourth consecutive time during the tournament that the former midfielder has failed to acknowledge the impact of the Galatasaray striker, continuing a pattern that has puzzled many observers.
The 'Pre-Assist' Maestro: Iwobi Earns Plaudits
Instead, Oliseh lavished praise on Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi, crediting him with being the architect of the victory. Oliseh emphasized the concept of the "pre-assist," the pass that sets up the final assist.
"If you look at all the goals, they all started from Alex Iwobi, this is what we call pre-assist passes," Oliseh stated during his commentary. "If you look at Nigeria's first goal, his pass tore the defense apart. The goal is what everyone is talking about, but it is the pass that comes before the assist. What a pre-assist from the Fulham star."
Oliseh argued that Iwobi's intelligent, line-breaking passes were fundamental to dismantling the Mozambican defense, effectively acting as the catalyst for each scoring move.
Fan Reactions and Broader Context
Interestingly, a segment of football fans appeared to agree with Oliseh's technical assessment of Iwobi's performance. Social media was abuzz with accolades for the midfielder's evolved role in the national team.
One fan, @bigcranial, dubbed him the "Bruno Fernandes of Nigeria," while @Ceephic declared Iwobi the "powerhouse in Super Eagles midfield." Another user, @FisayoDairo, noted, "Once again, an Alex Iwobi line-breaker wreaks the havoc for the Eagles... He is truly having a time of his life at this #AFCON2025."
This incident occurs against a backdrop of recent criticism aimed at Osimhen. As reported by Legit.ng, football analyst Olawale Adigun had previously criticized the striker for an on-field clash with teammate Ademola Lookman, accusing him of putting the team in a negative light.
Whether Oliseh's analysis is a pure footballing observation focused on build-up play or a continued deliberate omission of Osimhen remains a topic of fervent discussion among Nigerian football enthusiasts.
