Osimhen Threatens Super Eagles Exit After Heated AFCON Clash with Lookman

Nigeria’s resounding 4–0 victory over Mozambique to reach the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals was marred by a heated moment between two of the team’s leading forwards. Victor Osimhen reportedly became furious with Ademola Lookman during the match after a chance in open play didn’t go his way, and the situation quickly escalated.

Footage and eyewitness accounts suggest Osimhen confronted Lookman on the pitch, visibly upset that the ball wasn’t passed into a promising attacking position. Captain Wilfred Ndidi tried to calm things, but Osimhen signalled for a substitution shortly after and was replaced by Moses Simon.

After full-time, rather than joining celebrations or media duties alongside his teammates, Osimhen left the stadium, reportedly dropped his accreditation and indicated he wanted to return to Turkey, where he plays club football, instead of remaining with the squad. Senior officials from the Nigeria Football Federation were said to be working to calm him down.

The reported outburst has stirred debate about discipline and team harmony, even as Nigeria’s dominant performance saw them comfortably into the last eight. Lookman, meanwhile, has tried to temper concerns, downplaying the incident and stressing that unity remains intact.

The Super Eagles now have little time before their quarter-final tie, and attention will be on whether Osimhen remains part of the squad and how the team manages the aftermath of the clash heading into a critical phase of the tournament.