Osimhen’s Outburst Cost Super Eagles AFCON 2025 Title – Sunday Oliseh Fires Hot

Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has come out swinging, accusing star striker Victor Osimhen of being the main reason Nigeria failed to lift the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) trophy in Morocco. Oliseh claims Osimhen’s public on-pitch rant at teammate Ademola Lookman shattered the team’s unity and killed their momentum at a crucial time.

The Super Eagles had a strong run in the tournament, topping Group C with perfect wins: a 3-2 thriller against Tunisia where Osimhen finally broke his goal drought, a 3-1 victory over Uganda, and earlier matches that set them up nicely. They demolished Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16, with Osimhen netting twice and Lookman providing two assists. Then came a solid 2-0 quarter-final win over Algeria.

But the semi-final against hosts Morocco was a heartbreak – a goalless draw after 120 minutes, ending in a 4-2 penalty defeat. Nigeria bounced back to claim bronze, beating Egypt 4-2 on penalties in the third-place playoff, thanks to heroics from goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali who saved two spot-kicks. This marked Nigeria’s record ninth AFCON bronze medal.

The Incident That Sparked the Drama

According to Oliseh, the trouble started during the Mozambique game. Despite the comfortable win, Osimhen angrily confronted Lookman in the second half for not passing to him in a scoring position. The outburst was caught on camera and overshadowed the result.

Oliseh, speaking on his YouTube channel in an episode titled “Jealousy, Hypocrisy & The Toxicity That Cost Us AFCON,” didn’t hold back. “Let’s look at the toxicity that might have caused us (Nigeria) the AFCON title,” he said. “We are confusing talent with license. Victor Osimhen is world class but talent is not license to destroy team chemistry.”

He pointed out how Lookman, who was on fire early on with three goals and four assists in his first three games, suddenly went quiet after the incident. In the Algeria win, Lookman had no goals or assists. He struggled in the semi-final against Morocco and was even benched for the Egypt game. “Since that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, one of our brightest lights, Lookman became a shadow of himself and we lost the bite,” Oliseh added. “When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit.”

Stats Back Oliseh’s Claim?

Lookman’s dip in form is hard to ignore. Before the Mozambique clash, he was arguably the tournament’s standout player. Post-incident, Nigeria’s attack looked blunt, failing to score in open play in both the semi-final and third-place match, relying on penalties to progress. Oliseh argued this loss of “psychological edge” was fatal against a tactically sharp Morocco side.

Osimhen, on the other hand, continued his scoring streak, netting his 35th international goal against Algeria, closing in on Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37. But Oliseh warned that no player is bigger than the team.

Oliseh’s Broader Warning to Nigerian Football

This isn’t the first time Osimhen has been in the spotlight for controversy. Oliseh referenced the Galatasaray forward’s past video criticizing former coach Finidi George. “Scoring goals for Nigeria doesn’t give you a license to disrespect certified legends like Finidi George or Victor Ikpeba,” Oliseh fired. “It doesn’t give you the right to disrespect your coaches or teammates.“

He also slammed fan culture for tolerating such behavior. “If we don’t fix the discipline and the administration, there won’t be a Super Eagles left to support.“

Mixed Reactions from Fans and Pundits

Oliseh’s comments have sparked massive debate on social media. Some fans agree, with one X user saying, “Sunday Oliseh will always say it the way it is. We need to arrest indiscipline.” Others defend Osimhen, pointing to refereeing issues in the Morocco game as the real culprit. Pundit Colin Udoh called it “a real reach” to blame Osimhen solely.

Osimhen later issued an apology for the clash with Lookman, but the damage, according to Oliseh, was already done.

As Nigeria reflects on what could have been a fourth AFCON title, Oliseh’s words serve as a stark reminder: Talent alone won’t win trophies – discipline and unity will.