Lookman Dismisses Rift With Osimhen, Urges Focus as Super Eagles Eye AFCON Quarter-Final
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has played down reports of a rift between himself and Victor Osimhen following their on-field disagreement during Nigeria’s last match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, insisting there is no issue between the two stars, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Atalanta forward addressed the situation during his post-match press conference, stressing that the incident had been exaggerated and should not distract the team from its objectives at the tournament.
Lookman made it clear that the most important outcome from the game was Nigeria’s victory, not the brief exchange that occurred on the pitch. According to him, such moments are normal in competitive football and do not reflect any underlying problems within the squad.
“I haven’t talked to Victor Osimhen since the game. But what matters is that we won,” Lookman said. “He is a top player and very important to our team. For me, there is no big issue.”
The brief disagreement between the two players had sparked widespread reactions among fans and pundits, with speculation about possible tension within the Super Eagles camp. However, Lookman was quick to shut down such narratives, emphasizing that unity remains strong among the players as they continue their AFCON campaign.
Beyond addressing the incident, the winger also reflected on Nigeria’s recent disappointment of failing to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, acknowledging that the setback still lingers but must not derail the team’s current focus.
“The fact that we didn’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup is not going to go away. We have to deal with that,” he explained. “But we are at the AFCON, and we now have a big game to play in five days, either against Algeria or DR Congo, and we have to prepare for that.”
Nigeria will face either Algeria or DR Congo in the quarter-finals as the Super Eagles continue their push for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title. With the knockout stage approaching, Lookman’s comments underline the squad’s determination to remain united and fully concentrated on the task ahead.
Oluwayemi Omolagba
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