Victor Osimhen’s emotional outburst overshadowed an otherwise emphatic night for Nigeria as the Super Eagles defeated Mozambique 4-0 to secure a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals on Monday.
The Round of 16 encounter, played at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, was largely one-sided, with Nigeria dominant from the opening exchanges. However, the spotlight shifted in the second half when Osimhen became involved in a heated exchange with teammate Ademola Lookman.
The incident occurred in the 63rd minute with Nigeria already leading 3-0 and Osimhen on a hat-trick. Frustrated after not receiving a pass, the Galatasaray striker openly confronted Lookman and left-back Bruno Onyemaechi. The argument escalated quickly, prompting captain Wilfred Ndidi to step in, while Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava and Nigeria’s Calvin Bassey also intervened to calm the situation.
Moments later, Osimhen asked to be substituted and was replaced by Moses Simon. As he left the pitch, sections of the crowd voiced their displeasure.
The striker’s frustration continued after the substitution. He sat quietly on the bench, avoided the team’s post-match celebrations on the pitch and walked straight to the dressing room at full time. Osimhen also skipped media duties and was the first player to board the team bus.
Ademola Lookman, who was at the centre of the confrontation, downplayed the incident when he addressed the media after the match. He insisted there were no personal issues and stressed the importance of the team’s victory.
According to Lookman, emotions simply ran high in a competitive match, describing Osimhen as a key figure in the squad and reaffirming their close relationship.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi echoed that sentiment, dismissing suggestions of tension within the team. He explained that the disagreement stemmed from a strong desire to push for more goals and confirmed that the matter had been resolved internally.
Head coach Eric Chelle also played down the episode, stating that what happened on the pitch would be handled privately within the group. He emphasized that internal team matters would not be discussed publicly.
Osimhen’s reaction is the latest in a series of high-profile emotional moments involving the striker. He has previously been involved in disputes with coaches and, earlier in the tournament, walked off the pitch after being substituted during the group stage.
Despite the controversy, Nigeria’s convincing win underlined their attacking strength and defensive solidity as they move one step closer to continental glory.
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