AFCON: Nigeria star Ademola Lookman downplays on-field spat with Osimhen

Nigerian senior men’s national team forward Ademola Lookman has downplayed the on-field incident between him and fellow Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen during their dominant 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) victory against the Mambas of Mozambique.

The Super Eagles thrashed Mozambique 4-0 on Monday at the Stade de Fès in Morocco to progress to the AFCON quarter-finals. Osimhen was on the scoresheet with a brace, while Lookman scored once and provided two assists for Nigeria.

However, in the 64th minute—with the Super Eagles leading 3-0 and preparing for a corner kick—Osimhen was seen angrily confronting Lookman for failing to pass to him, believing he was in a better position to score. A few seconds later, the Galatasaray striker signaled to the bench for a substitution and was replaced by Moses Simon.

Reacting to the incident at the post-match press conference after picking up his second Man of the Match award of the tournament, Lookman dismissed the tension, stating that the result was the priority.

“I don’t think that is really important the team won 4-0.

Vic is my number one guy everybody knows this. Top striker, top player so all of the rest is not important.”

After the final whistle, Osimhen went straight to the dressing room while his teammates gathered in the center circle.

Up next for the Super Eagles is a quarter-final clash with either Algeria or DR Congo in Marrakech on Saturday, January 5.