Nigeria's convincing 4-0 triumph over Mozambique in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 has been clouded by a major controversy involving star striker Victor Osimhen. The Galatasaray forward, despite scoring two goals, found himself at the centre of a storm due to a public outburst against his own teammate, Ademola Lookman.
The Heated On-Field Exchange
The incident that sparked widespread criticism occurred in the 62nd minute of the match played on January 6, 2026. Lookman opted not to pass the ball to Osimhen in a promising attacking move, a decision that visibly infuriated the Napoli striker. Cameras clearly captured Osimhen shouting angrily at Lookman and pointing fingers.
In a moment picked up by pitch-side microphones, Osimhen was heard telling Lookman in Nigerian Pidgin, "No try am again," which directly translates to "do not try that again." Captain Wilfred Ndidi quickly intervened to calm the situation, but the damage was done. Shortly after, Osimhen asked to be substituted.
His exit in the 68th minute, when he was replaced by Moses Simon, was met with audible boos from sections of the Nigerian supporters in the stadium, turning a moment of victory into one of discord.
Backlash From Officials and Fans
The reaction from fans and commentators was swift and largely critical of Osimhen's conduct. Ibraheem Abdullateef, the Senior Special Assistant on Communications to the Kwara State Governor, took to social media platform X to voice his disapproval.
He described Osimhen as having "big talent, but poor character," accusing him of being disrespectful to teammates when things don't go his way. Abdullateef warned that such reactions could "create fear and distrust, which may stifle creativity, productivity and affect team unity"—a serious concern as Nigeria advances in the tournament.
On social media, the sentiment was similar. One fan labelled the behaviour "very silly," while another called it "irritating." Many pointed to perceived pride as the root cause, with comments like "The guy too proud, he thinks he’s better than everyone in the team" gaining traction.
Influencer Emma Ik Umeh (@emmaikumeh) highlighted the irony, noting, "Victor Osimhen had a quarrel with his teammate Lookman. Crazy, but this same Lookman provided him with an assist for his second goal earlier." Others, like Stanley Ogb, called the episode "very unprofessional."
Lookman's Mature Response and Tournament Context
In stark contrast to the furore, Ademola Lookman, who had an outstanding game with one goal and two assists, downplayed the incident after the match. He showed maturity and team spirit in his response.
"Victor is our number one guy. He’s a top striker, vital to us," Lookman stated. "Moments like that happen, but they don’t change our togetherness. I play for the badge and my teammates; assists or goals, the team comes first."
Despite the controversy, Osimhen's two goals were crucial. They took his international tally to 34, moving him within just three goals of the legendary Rashidi Yekini's all-time Nigerian record of 37. Before the tournament, Osimhen had downplayed the record chase, telling reporters his focus was solely on contributing to the team.
The victory books Nigeria's place in the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the match between Algeria and DR Congo. While the Super Eagles' attacking prowess is undeniable, the debate over Osimhen's temperament has raised pressing questions about squad harmony and discipline as Nigeria pursues its first AFCON title since 2013.
