Ademola Lookman has played down his on field incident with Victor Osimhen in Monday’s AFCON 2025 round of 16 clash with Mozambique.
The Super Eagles thrashed Mozambique 4-0 to progress to the quarter-finals.
Osimhen and Lookman were both on the score sheet with the latter bagging a hat-trick of assists.
However, in the 64th minute, with the Super Eagles 3-0 up and about to play a corner kick, Osimhen was seen angrily confronting Lookman for failing to lay a pass to him, believing he was in a better position to score.
Also Read: AFCON 2025: Lookman Scoops MOTM In Super Eagles’ Win Over Mozambique
Few seconds later the 2023 African Player of the Year signaled to the bench to be substituted and was eventually replaced by Moses Simon.
After the game Osimhen went straight to the dressing room while his teammates gathered in the centre circle.
Reacting to the issue at the post-match presser after picking up his second Man of the Match award of the tournament, Lookman described it as not important, stating the win is more important.
“I don’t think that is really important the team won 4-0,” Lookman told journalists. “Vic is my number one guy everybody knows this. Top striker, top player so all of the rest is not important.”
Up next for the Super Eagles is a quarter-final clash with either Algeria or DR Congo in Marrakech on Saturday, January 5.
By James Agberebi in Fes, Morocco
4 Comments
Nice one lookman, we need the unity among u guys to win this AFCON ooo, as the cup is the only thing that can make fans kinda relieve and happy a little bit. Even finalist won’t cut it if u ask me.
Lookman, na so. You spoke well.
Osimhen is hungry for goals and the trophy. Just work with him. Together, you all can do it!
Osimhen, you too calm down. Even though you had a good reason to be upset, don’t overdo it. Na dis same Lookman wey don give you all the assists for your 3 goals so far. Relax and work together!
Osimhen asked to be substituted and Chelle obliged him? As at 68 minutes. If I were Chelle, I’ll sub him off early in the next match
That’s disrespectful. Thankfully, Akor got a goal after he left since it seems we tend to be “impotent” when he’s not playing.
After yelling at Lookman, he did the same thing to Bruno. Who is he? Halland? He even walked off straight to the dressing room after the final whistle.
It was an ugly sight. Nobody should excuse such tantrums.
Maybe na DRC voodoo man dey work again ahead of a potential meetup to scatter our team cohesion lol
Nigeria is the only team that has 6 different scorers in the 4 matches. That should be a good sign but no, star boy wants to be the poster one and what happens if Chelle asks he should be the “face” of the attack going forward and he’s brutally man marked?
Others will not rise up? Yes, my dad shouted himself hoarse for Lookman to look up and pass up the ball severally rather than run into the opposition but Osimhen most likely would have run offside as well.
If the goal he scored had not been deflected by Mozambique player, that goal would have been ruled out.
The boys are already gone home. The men want to slug it out. Eagles don’t need any star boy especially as they failed to qualify for the expanded world cup back to back.
They should learn from Cameroon who “dimmed star men for collective gain”.
Three more wins and we are home and dry.
Is that too much to ask from a tournament that will soon be twice in every 10 years instead of the 5 per decade?
Village people be no no say we dey play afcon oh. 27 players should be able to put the team first na!
Fans in the stsdium booed Osimhen during the “forced” substitution. That will add more work on Chelle. Nigeria as a nation was disrespected, in my opinion.
Thankfully, quarter finals is on Saturday.
I hope the team has psychologist since they don’t have set piece coach.