Completesports.com’s live blogging of the AFCON 2025 Round of 16 game between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Mambas of Mozambique at the Complexe Sportif de Fes, Morocco.
By James Agberebi, in Fez
Nigeria Vs Mozambique Live Blogging – AFCON 2025 Round Of 16
Nnamdi Ezekute
Nnamdi Ezekute, a sports reporting expert, has risen through the ranks at Complete Communications Limited (CCL) famed for publications like Complete Sports.
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52 Comments
When would Osi become mature to stay away from offside trap.He needs to exercise calmness and patience. As it is now he is the the player with the highest offside in African Nations Cup history and we are still counting.
Lookman scores for 9ja from an excellent pass from Akor
1,2,3.
Lookboy on the beat!
Hope you all bench iwobi gangs are watching?
Osimhen”s village pipo are working overtime. Anoda goal ruled overside. He was indeed miles off. He should learn to time it better.
Osimhen makes it 2 for 9ja
Finally. Osimhen hits the net!
Iwobinho is taking diz afcon seriously ooo. My mvp so far lol. I have criticised him constructively to improve his marking which he has shown he can do from d way he presses in dis tournament. His takent has neva been in doubt but his wirkrate is wot we fans call for. He is doing excellently well to be honest.
Game project is working so far.
4-3-1-2 formation.
Keep it up boys.
Are we gonna keep ignoring iwobi pre-assist?
How will you ignore the best player on the pitch?
Iwobinho is the architect in chief. No wonder DRC were glued to him. They recognized the danger he brings.
It’s now our WC miss is really hitting hard, how do we explain missing out of the best soccer event with all this players at our disposal? Walahi NFF onigbese Eni Kure oooo.
Awon onigbese osi.
Awon oniranu.
Yeye pipo!
If you no wan collect, you have to closemark Iwobi.
Leave him to move about freely, you go collect taya.
Osinhen makes it 3 from great work by Lookman. Pre-assit from Iwobinho.
Lookman is playing lights out. Abeg fifa biko disqualify DRC for we na lol. How can diz team not mek d worldcup. Finido and Peseiro, una no try ooo
Well, dem don spell MOZ.
3 lovely strikes.
Hehehe, Osayi too wanna join the party.
Why not? Carry on boy!
Lookboy codedly wanna win the APOTY again.
This is true.
Bassey aka Bassinho.
Solid as a rock.
Lookman is being too selfish for my liking to be honest. Osihmen has been in many good positions to receive d easy ball to score but Lookman refuses to pass, this doesn’t bode well for d team going forward. He should be more of a team player and play for d team more rather personal glory. Osihmen too is acting prematurely. He should stop being childush and handle tinz in d locker room. He doesn’t have monopoly to scoring goals. He has been great all tournament but he is been too child like. He is showing a big fracture innd team. We know hevwants to get d golden boot but whats d point of d golden boot if d team crashes out. To be honest him yab for his outburst tiwards Lookman and Osayi to be honest. He needs to be calm. He himself has wasted numerous chances. He has place blemishes on dis excellent game.
That’s even the captain’s role, not Osimhen/ The band wey dem give am that day don dey neter him head.
Akor makes it 4 for 9ja. Hreat ball from Lookman from a decent counterattack with Ndidi and simon initiating the attack.
Akor wan tear net.
Powerful shot into the roof of the net for number four!
Coach kindly bring in Onyedika for Ndidi and Akinsanmiro for Iwobi to give him a taste of d afcon and give Iwobi a break to rest
When you can bring out Ndidi and Onyeka and bring in Bashiru and Rafa Onyedika.
That’s squad depth.
First clean sheet. Well done lads.
Chelle, abeg settle the quarrel between Osimhen and Lookman. No need for that. United we stand!
Hope Dr. Drey is watching this match, we’re winning 4-0 in a knock out stages ooo with Chelle as the coach!!!
……and which medal has CAF given you for winning Mozambique in the knockout stage….. LMAOOoo
Chelle has just done what he knows how to do best…. defeat teams ranked 100 and below in FIFA rankings
Let him win Congo or Algeria 4-0 first before you crown him your Lord and saviour
Then you can run your mouth all you want.
I’m not surprised nobody is responding to you Dr drey. You’re running out of circulation. Stop being sad my friend. Enjoy the moment.
Of course I am enjoying the moment.
I am not just hopelessly hopeful like some of you.
This was the same way you guys were drooling over Egauvoen in 2021 until the scales fell of your eyes.
Something that has been proven to fail multiple times need not be debated upon. It’s just a matter of time, the wet cement will eventually cure…… LMAOoo
Chelle beat Tunisia also !!
We were up 3 nil, and Osimhen still dey Para.
Still dey ginger the boys.
That tells me Osimhen is hungry.
No time!
Nice one. But don’t overdo it. Don’t quarrel with your team mates. Get angry, but don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
With that needless bassey last minute yellow, will he play our next match considering he got one against Uganda as well?
He’ll play the next match as yellow cards refreshes after each round.
Group matches yellow doesn’t apply in the knockout round.
Osimhen really needs to calm down o.
These tantrums of his may be disruptive to the team chemistry and hamper their chances of winning the cup
But the team is dominantly playing stellar football at the moment, I don’t see any team capable of beating them so far
Viva Super Eagles, Viva Nigeria, Viva Tinubu
Lookman had a great game… but his antics and selfish plays will cost us in big games… Lookman has to be a team player first before going for glory…. several plays he held on too long to the ball without releasing it… that was why Osimhen was angry. Though I dont excuse Osimhen’s outburst… Lookman often plays too much for personal glory for my liking… yes he gave Osimhen two assists but he could have easily showed himself a bigger player by releasing easy passes, many which we saw him fluff throughout the game…
Chelle has got some real man management to do to maintain team cohesion and unity.
I don’t like that Osimhen asked to be subbed off, and Chelle obliged him. Then he walked off immediately after the match ended. Rather than go for the traditional huddle with his teammates at the blast of the final whistle.
The fact that Lookman scooped the MOTM would seem to justify Osimhen’s rants; that Lookman wants to be the star of the team, which I doubt is Lookman’s aim. Osimhen’s goals have been from Lookman’s assists and vice versa. Aside from the coach, I hope Ndidi has that team glue touch that Ekong has with his teammates. Marmoush and Salah are complementing each other well with Egypt. Let’s learn, please..
Can somebody remind us again any odd that has been against us in AFCON 1/4 final? Seems the more u guys bring those odd, the more this guys play better.
We’ve won convincingly our round of 16 game after winning all 3 group matches ooo, oya we are waiting for another story.
This ordinary Malian is here to make history as the first African coach to ever coach us as none Nigerian to win us AFCON.
Mozambique this Mozambique that, how market now?
I am hopeful dat Chelle manages the situation between Osihmen and Lookman, these are key players for 9ja. The worse tin dat would happen is Lookman now retreating into his shell and 9ja not getting d best out of him bcos he wants to look for VO9 all d time. The coach needs to let Osihmen know dat the world as well as d team appreciates his effort, without him in d team, our team is very ordinary. His presence alone attracts 2 or sometimes 3 defenders leaving ample space for the likes of Lookman and Akor to wreak havoc. However, he Osihmen should know he can’t do it by himself, some of d reason lookman holds d ball too long is due to d fact dat Osihmen drifts to outside positions too often, he tends to run too fast and strays to d office position. He Osihmen needs to make peace with Lookman and apologize to d team. As a vice captain, u need to lead by example. The way he led against Uganda was exemplary only to mess all dat up bcos of diz his outburst. No one can doubt his passion or fiery personality but he can channel diz same passion and personality to benefit d team. Yelling at teammates is uncalled for, especially someone like Ademola dat has won same apoty like osihmen. Osihmen himself collected 2 assist from Ademola Lookman. Nobody in diz team brings what Lookman brings to diz team, dat dynamism and constant pressing is 2nd to none. Osihmen has balloned d ball on several occasions and no one has yelled at him (he has even tried to score from positions dat are ridiculous but everyone encourages him, why is his own different). Am a huge fan of his but today’s action showed serious lack of judgment. No wonder Monkey Post was always on him. Osihmen is a great player but needs to show maturity and level headedness. Asking to be subbed off during a game bcos a ball wasn’t passed to u is very juvenile.
This one that @Monkey post is yet to come out from his hideout to talk abt this issue is somehow ooo, hope that dude is fine though?
Like a child throwing his toys out of the pram. Not worthy to be vice captain let alone captain. Absolute irresponsible behaviour and the disrespect to the team! This is why he is playing in the back waters of Europe as he is an emotional liability. Great player no doubt but he is a keg of gun powder waiting to explode. He wants to single handedly sabotage this afcon for the team
He needs to apologise to the team.
Him asking to be substituted brings back memories of the drc game. The phantom injury? Could it be that he was not injured but there was burst up in the dressing room and chelle decided to sub him.
To those criticizing Osimhen’s reaction, it’s important to understand that elite football goes beyond just what you see on the surface — there’s a deep technical and psychological side to the game, especially at the highest level. Moreover, This is a tournament, Lookman need assists to make a statement. Imagine he gives 5 assist in the match, he has the clear edge to win player of the tournament and be a strong contender to win APOTY. As the wise one says “Whatever you do, you do it for yourself”.
Throughout that match, Osimhen found himself in clear, goal-scoring positions on at least three or four occasions. His off-the-ball movement was intentional and intelligent — exactly what you’d expect from a top-tier striker. Yet, despite this, Lookman, Akor and Osayi repeatedly overlooked him and chose not to pass.
Then came another moment: Bruno made a strong run from deep into the final third. With Osimhen perfectly placed to receive a decisive pass — and even Lookman in position — Bruno opted to go for it alone. The result? A wasted opportunity, as he had no real space in front of goal to make it count.
At that point, Osimhen’s visible frustration was natural. Reactions like his are not signs of ego or poor sportsmanship — they’re signs of a player operating with the kind of relentless drive and hunger that only the best in the world possess. You simply don’t rise to Osimhen’s level without that edge.
It’s fair to assume that Lookman and Akor weren’t intentionally ignoring him. They were likely caught in the emotional intensity of trying to finish the game strong. But it would be unfair to single out Osimhen for reacting the way he did — it’s part of what makes him who he is.
This same competitive mindset has made him one of Nigeria’s most reliable players, someone who’s stepped up for the country repeatedly and carved out a global reputation as a world-class striker.
His decision to request a substitution may well have been his way of stepping back and letting others take the spotlight once the game was essentially sealed.
At the end of the day, they’re professionals. Emotions run high, but things will be resolved internally. This is football at its peak. And players with the mentality of champions will always show that fire.
@Unique, there is no excuse for his behavior. There has been many times his team mates pass the ball to him and he fluffs his lines but they did not throw their hands in the air, acting out. Rather, they encouraged him.
There is no doubt, he is a committed player for club and country. In fact some players use this as a fuel to perform but to walk straight to the tunnel whilst your team mates are in a huddle is very disrespectful to the team and the country! No player is bigger than the team or country and the manager (probably not in this tourney) should begin to find a striker that can at least compete with him.
This behavior is quite common with players with no competition, it gets to their heads.
What is not good is not good! We should not make excuses for him at all. We should not call wrong right just because he is our favorite player.
Thanks my broda, u beat me to it. I couldn’t have said it any better.
While i agree with most of the tinz u have said and most fans echo d same sentiments in regards to Osihmen’s greatness, workrate, fighting spirit, sometimes leadership qualities etc but we have to call a spade a spade. He really goofed in dis situation. Me personally have said it on numerous occasions dat if Osihmen had played against DRC, we wouldn’t have lost dat match, dats how much i blif in d guy personally. My broda, u and i know d reason why he requested to be subbed was due to d fact that he was furious not letting others take any spotlight. After d final whistle he was still visibly upset and wouldn’t celebrate d victory with d team but rather walked straight to d dressing room. If i recall, d team is SE of Nigeria not SE of Osihmen. Can u imagine us and d media discussing his antics instead of the well orchestrated dismantling of Mozambique by d SE. His attitude has taken the gloss out of diz beautiful victory. Other teams will view diz as fracture within d team and might use it to dia advantage. Our own media has a role to play as well in squashing this misunderstanding. I think d two players can make a joint statement if required and jusr say it was a heat of d moment tin has Lookman has already say. Lookman even mention that VO9 is d #1 man, d best striker in d world or something in dat regard, he gave VO9 his props, dats how maturity sounds. Please note if all d passes go to VO9, pipo will say 9ja is over-reliant on VO9, dat 9ja can’t score if he doesn’t. It bodes very well for the team when u have goal contribution from various players in d team, not saying if VO9 is in a better position, he shouldn’t be given d ball. 8 outta 9 times his teammates are looking to release him with d ball however sometimes its impossible for many reasons (d players head is down and can’t see him, d player thinks he can score, selfishness etc). The fact is VO9 needs d team and d team needs him to achieve its ultimate aim. Coach, media officer, players have to find a way to resolve diz matter otherwise it might derail our chances. This is where unity of purpose is critical as 9ja will either meat Algeria (9pts, 3 wins from 3) or DRC (7pts 2 wins and a draw against almighty Senegal, a game they were gonna win if it wasn’t dat error from Masuaku coupled with d fact dat they eliminated 9ja in the WC playoffs), any crack within our team will be exploited by diz teams. Just my tots.
*Osimhen and his Teammates*
The criticism surrounding Victor Osimhen’s reaction during the match deserves a more informed and nuanced analysis. Elite football is not merely about visible effort or surface-level composure. It is deeply technical, instinctive, and psychological. Decisions are made in fractions of seconds, shaped by pre-planned patterns, spatial awareness, and mutual trust among teammates.
Throughout the match, Osimhen repeatedly positioned himself in high-value scoring zones—three or four clear situations where a timely pass could have led to a decisive chance. His off-the-ball movement was not random or self-serving; it was deliberate, intelligent, and aligned with the responsibilities of a world-class striker.
These are the runs coaches drill into their forwards because they stretch defensive lines and create goals. Yet, in those moments, the final pass did not arrive. Lookman and Akor, caught between individual initiative and team execution, opted for other options.
The situation was further compounded when Bruno surged forward from deep into the final third. Osimhen was well-positioned, presenting a clear passing lane, and Lookman was also available. Instead, Bruno chose to carry the ball himself into a congested area with little space to finish. The outcome was predictable: a lost opportunity at a critical moment.
It was after this sequence that Osimhen’s frustration became visible. Context matters here. This was not petulance, arrogance, or a lack of sportsmanship. It was the reaction of a player operating at the highest competitive level, one whose standards are shaped by elite European football and relentless personal accountability.
Players of Osimhen’s caliber are wired differently. Their frustration stems from a burning desire to maximize every advantage and punish every defensive lapse. That edge is not a flaw; it is a defining characteristic of champions.
It is also important to be fair to his teammates. There is no evidence that Lookman or Akor deliberately ignored Osimhen. In high-pressure tournament settings, players can become emotionally invested in “finishing strong,” sometimes allowing individual instinct to override collective logic. These moments are not unusual, especially in teams still growing into full tactical maturity.
Singling out Osimhen for his reaction, however, misses the point. This same intensity has made him one of Nigeria’s most dependable performers on the global stage.
Time and again, he has delivered when it mattered most, carrying both expectation and responsibility with courage. His reputation as a world-class striker was not gifted; it was earned through discipline, sacrifice, and an uncompromising competitive mindset.
Even his decision to request a substitution can be interpreted through a mature lens. With the game effectively under control, stepping aside may have been his way of defusing tension, conserving energy, and allowing others to take responsibility.
Players and coaching staff must align their vision, trust the system, and communicate better in decisive moments. The coach’s role is crucial here—managing personalities, reinforcing tactical discipline, and ensuring that individual brilliance serves the team’s objectives, not the other way around.
What defines great teams is not the absence of emotion, but the ability to channel it constructively.
What matters most is that Nigeria harnesses this fire, sharpens its cohesion, and steps into the quarterfinals not just as a talented side, but as a mature, unified force ready to compete with the very best.
Similar incidence unfolded during our ill-fated WCQ match with DR Congo, where he chastised Lookman and Ndidi at halftime for missing a glorious chance to go 2:0 up, the coach didn’t handle that situation well leading to Osimhen not playing the 2nd half. The team collapsed thereafter, and Congo ran rings around our team to eventually win the match on penalties.
Here is a **much more deeply critical, incisive, and razor-sharp** version — still analytical, not abusive, but deliberately **unsparing and uncomfortable**, because that is what the moment demands:
—
Osimhen’s importance to this team is not up for debate. His aggression, relentlessness, and refusal to accept mediocrity have been central to Nigeria’s resurgence at this tournament. The numbers are clear: Nigeria failed to win any of the five World Cup qualifying matches he missed, and that sequence effectively sealed our failure to qualify. That alone explains why his presence now feels transformational.
But this is precisely why what happened is so troubling.
Publicly rebuking a teammate in the middle of a match — complete with finger-pointing — is not “elite mentality”; it is a failure of emotional control. It was particularly unjustifiable given that Lookman assisted two goals in that same game and delivered one of his most industrious performances in a Super Eagles shirt. Yes, Lookman can be selfish. That is a legitimate football criticism. But airing it before the global audience was reckless and counterproductive.
The most damaging consequence is not even the moment itself, but its aftermath. Instead of discussing what was arguably Nigeria’s most authoritative performance in years, the conversation has been hijacked. Every media space is now dominated by internal conflict. That is how teams lose focus, momentum, and ultimately tournaments.
More importantly, this incident raises dangerous questions about leadership dynamics within the squad. How do teammates now interpret Osimhen’s actions? As passion — or as intimidation? As accountability — or as entitlement? Dressing rooms fracture not through big fights, but through unresolved resentment. Nigerian football history offers a cautionary tale. During the so-called Golden Generation, persistent whispers of internal divisions — including alleged conspiracies against Rashidi Yekini — undermined cohesion and left scars that were evident at the 1994 World Cup. Talent did not save that team from internal distrust. This one will not be immune either.
There is also the personal cost to Osimhen himself. Immediately after the incident, his body language changed. His movement dropped, his pressing stopped, and he asked to be substituted. That is not the reaction of a player in control of his emotions. If this mental disruption carries into subsequent matches, it will directly affect his output — and once results dip, scrutiny will become unforgiving.
The reported refusal to apologise compounds the problem. Leadership is not about being technically right; it is about protecting the collective. By insisting he “offended no one,” Osimhen risks isolating himself and, worse, placing the coach in an impossible position. Chelle knows the team cannot function without him, yet tolerating such a stance sends a corrosive message: that some players operate above collective discipline. That is how authority erodes quietly.
At this point, the NFF’s limitations are fully exposed. How does a national team repeatedly enter major tournaments without a visible, qualified sports psychologist? This is not a luxury; it is a professional necessity. Emotional regulation, conflict mediation, and group cohesion are not handled by press releases or chairman interventions. Where is Dr. Robinson Okosun, who once provided that psychological ballast? A competent psychologist could have de-escalated this immediately and shielded the squad from public fallout.
Beyond that, the federation must urgently deploy respected ex-internationals — figures Osimhen respects — to intervene. Not for public optics, but for honest, closed-door accountability. Sometimes, authority is best exercised by those who have worn the shirt, carried the burden, and understand what a single unresolved conflict can do to a tournament run.
Osimhen, too, must reflect. If this issue festers and the team falters, the blame — fair or not — will land squarely on him. That would be tragic, because he is on the brink of history. Almost no one is talking about his brace against Mozambique, which took him to 34 goals, just three shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time record. That silence alone should be sobering.
This team stands at a crossroads. Championships are not lost by opponents alone; they are often undone from within. If this moment is mishandled, it will be remembered not as a minor on-field disagreement, but as the crack that widened at exactly the wrong time.