Oliseh attacks Osimhen for costing Eagles’ AFCON trophy

Oliseh

Former Super Eagles midfielder Sunday Oliseh has criticised striker Victor Osimhen, suggesting his behaviour during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations undermined Nigeria’s chances of winning the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking on his YouTube show Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights, Oliseh argued that Osimhen’s conduct damaged team morale and affected the performance of key teammates.

Oliseh highlighted the confrontation between Osimhen and winger Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s round of 16 victory over Mozambique on as a pivotal moment.

The Galatasaray striker berated Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi for not passing him the ball in the 63rd minute, with Nigeria leading 3-0. The altercation required intervention from captain Wilfred Ndidi and Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava, while Calvin Bassey stepped in to mediate. Osimhen subsequently requested to be substituted and was replaced by Moses Simon.

Reflecting on the incident, Oliseh said, “We are confusing talent with license. Victor Osimhen is world class. But talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry. When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit. You destroy the very confidence a team needs to survive a semi-final.”

He added that Lookman, who had been Nigeria’s most dangerous player in the tournament, “became a shadow of himself” following the confrontation.

“Statistically, Lookman was the most dangerous player in the tournament until that public verbal abuse broke his focus,” Oliseh said.

“You cannot expect a playmaker to perform miracles on the pitch when he has been demoralized by his own teammate. The conflict did its damage. We didn’t just lose a game, we lost the psychological edge we needed to win.”

The Super Eagles began the knockout stage with a convincing 4-0 win over Mozambique, in which Lookman had scored thrice and assisted four times at that stage, being the player with most goals contribution in the tournament.