Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 demolition of Mozambique in the round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations should have been remembered purely as a statement of intent. Instead, a moment of raw emotion involving Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman briefly threatened to overshadow one of the Super Eagles’ most convincing performances of the tournament and sparked intense debate about temperament, leadership, and unity within the squad.

On Monday night at the Fes Sports Complex, the Super Eagles delivered a dominant display that underlined their status as genuine title contenders. Still smarting from the disappointment of missing out on a second consecutive FIFA World Cup, Nigeria played with urgency, cohesion, and attacking purpose, overwhelming Mozambique and cruising into the quarter-finals, where a clash with either Algeria or DR Congo awaits.

At the heart of Nigeria’s early dominance was the attacking partnership between Osimhen and Lookman. In the 25th minute, Alex Iwobi split the Mozambican defence with a perfectly weighted pass, allowing Lookman to square for Osimhen, who finished confidently to open his AFCON account. The celebration that followed, Osimhen, Lookman, and Bruno Onyemaechi embracing, appeared to capture the harmony of a team in full flow.

Shortly after the restart, Lookman again turned provider, rising to meet a ball before setting Osimhen up for another opportunity. The Napoli striker leapt into Lookman’s arms in celebration, reinforcing the sense of chemistry between the two attackers. At that point, Nigeria was in total control, playing with freedom and confidence.

However, the mood shifted midway through the second half. Osimhen, visibly hungry for goals and keen to assert himself as Nigeria’s focal point, grew frustrated when several promising moves failed to end with the ball at his feet. On one occasion, Lookman opted to dribble rather than release an early pass, despite Osimhen appearing well-positioned. Moments later, Onyemaechi and Akor Adams both drove into the box instead of squaring the ball.

The tension boiled over around the 63rd minute. As Lookman moved towards the corner flag to take a set piece, Osimhen confronted him angrily, pointing in his face and voicing his displeasure. Captain Wilfred Ndidi attempted to intervene, but the striker brushed him aside in a rare and uncomfortable sight. In an unusual twist, Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava stepped in to help separate the Nigerian teammates.

Osimhen then gestured emphatically towards the bench, signalling his desire to be substituted. Despite Nigeria leading comfortably, head coach Éric Chelle granted the request, replacing him with Moses Simon in the 70th minute. Sections of the crowd responded with boos as Osimhen made his way off the pitch, a reaction that further highlighted the unease surrounding the episode.

Nigeria, however, never lost its rhythm. Lookman and Akor Adams added to Osimhen’s brace to complete the rout, sealing a 4–0 victory that statistically ranked among the Super Eagles’ most dominant AFCON performances in recent years. Yet, by the final whistle, attention had shifted almost entirely away from the scoreline.

According to reports, Osimhen headed straight down the tunnel at full time, bypassing teammates and coaching staff who remained on the pitch. It was further claimed that he left the dressing room early, sat alone on the team bus, and appeared visibly upset. Unverified reports even suggested that the striker dropped his accreditation and declared he was “done” with the national team, insisting he would return to Turkey.

The rumours quickly ignited social media, reviving concerns about Osimhen’s temperament, concerns that date back to his public fallout with former coach Finidi George in June 2024. The timing was particularly delicate. Lookman has arguably been Nigeria’s standout performer at this AFCON, leading the tournament with seven direct goal contributions, three goals, and four assists. Osimhen, meanwhile, remains a fan favourite and is just three goals shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national scoring record, but has cut a visibly frustrated figure in recent games.

Amid the growing speculation, the Nigerian Football Federation moved swiftly to calm the situation. A top NFF official, speaking through FIFA and CAF-accredited journalist Adepoju Samuel, categorically denied claims that Osimhen was leaving the AFCON camp.

“A top team official just confirmed the latest situation over yesterday’s incident,” Samuel wrote on X. “The official said everything has been sorted since last night, and we are all good. There was no discussion about Osimhen leaving the tournament. The issue has been resolved as a family.”

Inside the camp, the message was consistent: the incident was a footballing disagreement, not a crisis. Speaking after the match, Lookman played down any suggestion of a rift, insisting the exchange was simply a heat-of-the-moment reaction common at the highest level.

“Victor is our number one guy,” the Atlanta forward said. “He’s a top striker, vital to us. Moments like that happen, but they don’t change our togetherness. I play for the badge and my teammates; assists or goals, the team comes first. Victor’s hunger drives us.”

Lookman later reinforced that message on social media, sharing photos of himself alongside Osimhen and Onyemaechi with the caption, “TOGETHER ALWAYS.” In a brief follow-up, he described Osimhen as his “brother,” adding that the disagreement “doesn’t matter” in the bigger picture.

Captain Wilfred Ndidi and head coach Éric Chelle also dismissed talk of lingering tension, urging Nigerians to continue backing the team as focus shifts to the quarter-finals. Defender Chidozie Awaziem echoed the sentiment, describing both players as fighters driven by the same desire to win.

“Everyone wants to score. Everyone wants to win,” Awaziem said. “Victor is a fighter. Ademola is a fighter. Ndidi is a fighter. We are all fighters. It’s just football. The issue has been solved, and now we focus on the next game.”

Statistically, Nigeria’s attacking unit remains one of the most potent in the competition. Osimhen has recorded three goals and three assists, while Lookman has edged ahead with three goals and four assists. Together, they represent the cutting edge of a Super Eagles side that believes it can go all the way.

For now, what could have become a destabilising internal crisis appears to have been defused. Yet the episode serves as a reminder of the fine line between passion and disruption at elite tournaments. As Nigeria prepares for the quarter-finals, the challenge will be ensuring that the hunger and intensity that fuel their stars continue to drive performances, without boiling over again.