Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman had a heated on-field exchange during Nigeria’s 4-0 AFCON round-of-16 win against Mozambique on Monday, January 5, 2026.
The dispute occurred when Osimhen was frustrated that Lookman did not pass him the ball in a promising scoring position in the second half, despite Lookman having assisted Osimhen’s two earlier goals.
Incident Details and Reactions
The Argument: Osimhen was captured on camera angrily confronting Lookman for not passing to him when he was open for a potential hat-trick goal.
Teammates, including captain Wilfred Ndidi, quickly intervened to separate them, and Osimhen subsequently signaled to be substituted. He reportedly walked straight down the tunnel after the match, bypassing post-match media duties.
Lookman’s Response: Ademola Lookman, who was named Man of the Match, downplayed the incident as a normal on-pitch “discussion” and referred to Osimhen as his “brother,” insisting there were no lingering issues.
Media and Fan Reactions: The incident sparked debate among fans and a senior government aide, with some criticizing Osimhen’s on-field conduct and attitude. Others have emphasized that such emotional outbursts are part of football’s competitive nature.
Team Outlook: Former team media officer Toyin Ibitoye stated the situation would be managed internally and would not disrupt the team’s focus on the AFCON tournament.
Lookman later shared a photo with Osimhen with the caption “together always” to further dismiss any rumors of a permanent rift.
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