Nigeria secured a commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique on Monday to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. However, the emphatic Round of 16 win was partially overshadowed by a heated on-field exchange between Super Eagles teammates Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The match, played at the Complexe Sportif de Fes on January 5, saw Nigeria deliver one of their most convincing performances of the tournament. Ademola Lookman opened the scoring in the 20th minute, taking his goal tally to three for the competition. Five minutes later, Victor Osimhen doubled the lead, ending a one-match goal drought. The Galatasaray striker then completed his brace shortly after halftime in the 46th minute, also moving onto three goals for the tournament.
Nigeria sealed the rout in the 75th minute when Sevilla forward Akor Adams fired home his first AFCON goal, once again assisted by Lookman, who finished the night with two assists.
Despite the comfortable scoreline, tensions flared in the 63rd minute during a Nigerian attack. Lookman, in possession, attempted to dribble past a Mozambican defender but lost the ball. Osimhen reacted angrily, charging toward his teammate and reportedly shouting, “It’s a team game, pass the ball.”
Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi intervened to calm the situation, though he was briefly pushed aside in the process. A video of the incident later circulated widely on social media, showing Ndidi subsequently reassuring Lookman after the confrontation.
Following the clash, Osimhen appeared reluctant to make forward runs when Lookman had the ball. Five minutes later, head coach Eric Chelle substituted Osimhen for Paris FC winger Moses Simon. After the final whistle, Osimhen did not join his teammates in celebration, instead heading straight down the tunnel, with reports suggesting Nigeria Football Federation officials discouraged other players from engaging him at that moment.
The incident sparked widespread debate among fans, many of whom criticized Osimhen’s conduct, arguing that it detracted from an otherwise outstanding team performance. Social media reactions described his behaviour as unnecessary and lamented that the confrontation became the main talking point of Nigeria’s dominant display.
The Super Eagles, three-time African champions, will now turn their focus to the quarter-finals, hoping to put the controversy behind them as they continue their quest for continental glory. Meanwhile, Osimhen remains in the spotlight, both for his goals at AFCON 2025 and for ongoing reports linking him with a potential move to European giants Barcelona.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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