Former Super Eagles media officer, Toyin Ibitoye, has dismissed the on-field disagreement between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman as a minor incident rooted in competitive eмоtions rather than any underlying crisis within the national team.
Ibitoye explained that Osimhen’s reaction was in line with his well-known fiery temperament, describing the Napoli striker as a player who wears his emotions on his sleeve during both matches and training sessions.
“Victor is extremely competitive. He reacts in the heat of the moment,” Ibitoye said. “Sometimes he flares up or picks a quarrel, but he cools down quickly. That’s just his nature, and the players are used to it.”
According to him, Osimhen’s teammates understand how to manage such situations, having witnessed similar moments behind the scenes.
“They see it often in training. While he needs to be better managed, the players know him and they understand him,” he added.
The brief confrontation occurred during Nigeria’s AFCON 2025 outing when Osimhen expressed frustration after not receiving a pass.
The striker had earlier celebrated enthusiastically with Lookman following his contributions to the goals, but a later moment of irritation led to a short exchange that involved another teammate, Bruno.
Lookman tried to calm Osimhen, and although the striker briefly turned his anger toward him, the situation was quickly resolved on the pitch.
Ibitoye warned against reading too much into the episode, stressing that emotional outbursts are common in high-pressure football environments
. “It’s not ideal, but it happens in competitive games. It doesn’t mean there’s a rift or a breakdown in the team,” he said.
Nigeria’s commanding 4–0 victory over Mozambique in Fès secured a place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals, with Osimhen scoring twice and Lookman delivering a man-of-the-match display that included a goal and two assists.
Despite the emphatic win, attention shifted to reports and images suggesting tension between the two stars.
On Tuesday, Lookman sought to put the matter to rest by sharing photos of himself and Osimhen together, including one showing him carrying the striker on his back, alongside the message: “Together always.”
The post was seen as a clear attempt to calm speculation of a dressing-room fallout, even as unconfirmed reports claimed Osimhen had dropped his accreditation and threatened to leave the AFCON squad.
No official statement has supported those claims, with sources insisting the team remains united and focused on the tournament ahead.
