Super Eagles talisman Victor Osimhen has finally spoken on the heated on-field altercation with teammate Ademola Lookman that shocked fans during Nigeriaās emphatic 4ā0 thrashing of Mozambique in the AFCON 2025 Round of 16, laying bare the crushing pressure that fueled his reaction, insisting there is no bad blood between them.
In a raw, emotional post-match interview now circulating widely online, Osimhen spoke candidly about the burden of expectation he carries as Nigeriaās leading star.
āWhen we did not qualify for the World Cup, everyone called me out. They forgot about other players. Thatās when I understood the weight is on me,ā Osimhen said. āYes, we scored three goals already, but in football, five goals can be scored in three minutes. Thatās why we did not have to relax. The whole country is counting on us and if we fail, theyāll drag us everywhere ā especially me.ā
He moved swiftly to douse any hint of a rift, stressing unity within the squad.
āI love Lookman. He is my brother and he understands that was just football. Everyone wants Nigeria to win the AFCON and it doesnāt come easy. We must do our best.ā
The tense moment unfolded around the 63rd minute with Nigeria cruising at 3ā0 and Osimhen chasing a hat-trick.
Cameras caught him furiously confronting Lookman and defender Bruno Onyemaechi for not releasing the ball quickly, triggering a visibly heated exchange that rippled through the stadium and across social media.
The drama deepened when Osimhen walked straight down the tunnel at full time, skipping the celebrations as fans speculated wildly about unrest in the camp.
Lookman, who assisted both of Osimhenās goals in the match, quickly played it down, describing the incident as pure competitive fire. āHeās my brother. Itās just football,ā he said.
Senior teammates including Wilfred Ndidi and Moses Simon, as well as head coach Ćric Chelle, confirmed the matter was resolved internally within minutes.
Public reaction, however, remains sharply divided; while some Nigerians accused Osimhen of selfishness and unnecessary outbursts in a game already won, others defended his relentless winning mentality, arguing that his refusal to relax is exactly what separates elite champions from average players.
