Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has finally addressed the Nigerian public following his much-discussed on-pitch confrontation with teammate Ademola Lookman. This comes after he played a pivotal role in Nigeria's 2-0 victory over Algeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 quarter-final.
The Incident and Immediate Fallout
The controversy erupted during Nigeria's emphatic 4-0 group stage win over Mozambique. Osimhen and Lookman were involved in a heated exchange in the second half, with the Napoli striker's animated gestures drawing particular criticism from fans and observers back home. Many Nigerians called for disciplinary action against the star forward following the unsavoury incident.
Despite the public outcry, head coach Eric Chelle showed faith in his key man. Chelle named Osimhen in the starting lineup for the crucial quarter-final clash against the Desert Foxes of Algeria on January 10, 2026, opting to keep the matter an internal team affair.
Redemption on the Pitch Against Algeria
Osimhen repaid his coach's faith in spectacular fashion. The powerful forward broke the deadlock just after halftime, powering home a brilliant header in the 47th minute to give Nigeria the lead. He wasn't done there. Ten minutes later, Osimhen turned provider, setting up teammate Akor Adams for the second goal that sealed the victory and a place in the AFCON 2025 semi-finals.
His performance was a clear statement on the field, but fans were still waiting to hear from the player himself regarding the earlier incident with Lookman.
Osimhen's Message to the Fans
Following the match, in a pitch-side recording for CAF, Victor Osimhen spoke directly to the Nigerian supporters for the first time since the spat. While he did not explicitly mention the disagreement with Lookman, his message focused on unity and gratitude.
"Hello to the Super Eagles fans, thank you for your support worldwide. This victory was not easy and I’m happy that the team got the win against Algeria," Osimhen said.
He added, "Thank you for your support and we will continue to build on this momentum and hopefully we get to the final and win it. Thank you very much."
This public address aligns with earlier statements from coach Chelle and other team officials, who maintained that the issue between Osimhen and Lookman had been resolved internally and was now in the past. The team's focus remains squarely on the tournament ahead, with the semi-final now on the horizon.
The incident and its aftermath highlight the intense pressure and scrutiny on the Super Eagles, but the decisive win over Algeria and Osimhen's match-winning contribution have shifted the narrative back to football. The nation now waits to see if this resolved tension can fuel a successful push for the AFCON 2025 title.
