Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen found himself in the eye of a storm on Monday night, despite Nigeria's commanding 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Round of 16. The Napoli forward was involved in a heated on-field exchange with teammate Ademola Lookman, an incident that led to sections of the crowd booing him as he was substituted.
The Heated On-Field Exchange
The flashpoint occurred in the 63rd minute of the match. According to match reports, Ademola Lookman chose to take a shot at goal himself instead of passing to a seemingly better-placed Victor Osimhen. Osimhen's reaction was immediate and visibly furious. Television cameras captured the star striker confronting Lookman, pointing aggressively and shouting his frustration, with captain Wilfred Ndidi stepping in to intervene.
This moment of tension was particularly notable given that Lookman had been instrumental in Nigeria's dominant performance up to that point, providing two assists earlier in the game. One of those assists had led directly to a goal for Osimhen, who ended the match with a brace, while the other was converted by Akor Adams.
Fan Reaction and Social Media Debate
Shortly after the altercation, Osimhen signaled to the bench to be substituted. When Moses Simon replaced the 27-year-old forward, a surprising chorus of boos rang out from parts of the stadium as Osimhen made his way off the pitch. This negative reception was unusual considering Nigeria was cruising to a comprehensive 4-0 win, sealing their place in the tournament's quarter-finals.
The incident quickly ignited a fierce debate on social media platforms. Many Nigerian fans and pundits questioned Osimhen's conduct and leadership, especially during a high-stakes knockout match where team unity is considered paramount. The booing and subsequent online criticism overshadowed what was otherwise a ruthless and impressive team performance.
Lookman and Team Management Downplay Incident
In the aftermath, Ademola Lookman moved swiftly to defuse speculation of a serious rift within the Super Eagles camp. Speaking to reporters, the Atalanta winger dismissed the clash as a momentary heat-of-the-moment event.
"I have not seen Osimhen but I don’t think that matters. Vic is our number one guy, everybody knows this, he’s a top striker. So, all of that doesn’t matter," Lookman stated. "It’s just football. It’s always football. He is my brother."
Super Eagles head coach, Eric Chelle, also addressed the issue cautiously. Refusing to make a public judgement, Chelle indicated he would handle the matter internally with the players involved. His focus remained on preparing the team for their upcoming quarter-final clash, where they will face the winner of the match between Algeria and DR Congo.
Despite the controversy, Nigeria's footballing prowess was never in doubt during the match. The team delivered a fourth consecutive win in the tournament, displaying the form that makes them one of the favorites to lift the AFCON 2025 trophy. All eyes will now be on the squad's cohesion as they prepare for an even tougher challenge in the next round.
