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Osimhen overshadows Nigeria rout with explosive internal row
Nigeria cruised into the knockout stage, but a dominant night unraveled from within. A shocking on-field clash stole the spotlight from a statement win.
A win that should have been flawless
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Nigeria booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique, underlining their ambition after missing out on the last World Cup.
What should have been a night of unity and celebration, however, quickly turned sour, as an extraordinary internal incident eclipsed an otherwise dominant performance.
From lethal partnership to open conflict
For over an hour, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman looked like the most dangerous attacking duo at the tournament. Their movement was sharp, their chemistry obvious. In the 25th minute, a brilliant pass from Alex Iwobi allowed Lookman to tee up Osimhen, sparking jubilant celebrations alongside Bruno Onyemaechi.
The connection continued after the break, with Lookman once again providing the assist for Osimhen’s second goal of the night. Joint second-top scorers in the competition, the pair appeared untouchable.
Tensions boil over
The mood shifted dramatically soon after. Osimhen began showing visible frustration, gesturing angrily as he felt passes were being withheld. The breaking point came when Frank Onyeka released Lookman, who chose to dribble into traffic rather than square the ball.
Moments later, a counter-attack saw Onyemaechi and Akor Adams both ignore a free Osimhen in the box. The Napoli striker reacted furiously, throwing his arms in the air as tempers flared.
A confrontation that stunned the stadium
What began as footballing frustration escalated into an open confrontation. As Lookman moved to take a corner kick, Osimhen, 27, charged at his team-mate, pointing aggressively in his face while Lookman stood in disbelief.
Captain Wilfred Ndidi rushed in to intervene but was brushed aside. In a bizarre twist, it was Mozambique defender Reinildo who ultimately stepped in to separate the two Nigerian players and calm the situation.
A self-inflicted substitution and solitary exit
The drama did not stop there. Still seething, Osimhen demanded to be substituted, repeatedly signaling to the bench. Despite Nigeria cruising at 3-0, the coaching staff complied, replacing him with Moses Simon in the 68th minute.
After the final whistle, while the squad celebrated their progression on the pitch, Osimhen headed straight down the tunnel. Reports suggest he was the first to board the team bus, sitting alone as his team-mates fulfilled media duties and marked their achievement.
Unity under scrutiny
Nigeria’s quarter-final opponent will be Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo, the side that denied them a World Cup place last November. But attention has shifted beyond tactics and form.
With Osimhen isolated and the rest of the group moving on without him, questions now surround the squad’s harmony. On the pitch, Nigeria look formidable. Off it, the balance suddenly feels far more fragile at a critical stage of the tournament.
