Nigeria’s commanding march into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday night came with an unexpected sting, as a dominant 4–0 win over Mozambique was followed by a flashpoint involving star striker Victor Osimhen that stole the spotlight.
On the pitch, the Super Eagles were ruthless. Determined to move past the pain of missing out on back-to-back World Cup qualifications, Nigeria tore through the Mambas with authority and confidence, sealing progression and setting up a possible last-eight clash with DR Congo. Off the pitch, however, the mood quickly soured.
Osimhen, Nigeria’s talisman and leading attacking threat, was at the centre of dramatic scenes that unfolded midway through the contest. The tension was surprising, especially given the clear understanding he initially showed with Ademola Lookman.
Nigeria took the lead in the 25th minute when Alex Iwobi threaded a precise pass through Mozambique’s defence. Lookman unselfishly squared the ball, allowing Osimhen to finish calmly and open his tournament account. The trio, joined by Bruno Onyemaechi, celebrated together in what looked like a sign of harmony.
Early in the second half, the connection resurfaced. Lookman again turned provider, and Osimhen reacted with visible joy as he embraced his teammate after another promising attack.
But the striker’s mood soon shifted. As Nigeria continued to dominate, several attacking moves broke down without Osimhen receiving the final ball. Frustration boiled over when Lookman opted to take on defenders instead of releasing a pass, followed by similar moments involving Onyemaechi and Akor Adams driving into the area rather than squaring to him.
The situation escalated moments later at a corner kick. As Lookman moved to take the set piece, Osimhen confronted him angrily, pointing and exchanging words. Captain Wilfred Ndidi attempted to intervene, but the confrontation continued until an unlikely peacemaker — Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava — stepped in to separate the pair.
In a move that stunned both players and fans, Osimhen then signalled to the bench that he wanted to be taken off. Despite Nigeria leading comfortably at 3–0, head coach granted the request, replacing him with Moses Simon.
The drama did not end there. According to Arise TV, Osimhen headed straight down the tunnel at full time, avoiding celebrations as teammates and staff remained on the pitch. Reports from inside the camp claim he left the dressing room early and sat alone on the team bus while others carried out post-match media duties.
Further reports suggested the striker departed the stadium visibly distressed, dropping his accreditation and declaring he was finished with the national team, insisting he would return to Turkey. Nigeria Football Federation officials were said to have made efforts to contact him, with senior figures divided over whether to intervene immediately or allow emotions to settle.
The episode has reignited questions about Osimhen’s temperament, coming months after his very public disagreement with former head coach Finidi George. The timing could hardly be worse for Nigeria, particularly with Lookman enjoying the tournament of his life. The Atalanta forward has now recorded seven goal involvements — three goals and four assists — more than any other player at the competition.
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Osimhen remains hugely popular among Nigerian fans and sits just three goals shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time national scoring record. Yet, his body language and reactions in recent matches have suggested a growing sense of frustration.
As the Super Eagles prepare for the knockout stages, their emphatic win over Mozambique has faded into the background. Instead, attention now turns to whether this internal rift can be resolved quickly — or whether it threatens to derail Nigeria’s AFCON campaign at a critical moment.
