Ademola Lookman Downplays Victor Osimhen Exchange, Backs Super Eagles’ Momentum

Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has brushed aside concerns over a heated on-field exchange between himself and Victor Osimhen during Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.

Osimhen was visibly frustrated during the second half after a missed passing opportunity, confronting Lookman inside the opposition box. Despite attempts by captain Wilfred Ndidi to calm the situation, the Napoli striker approached Lookman, leading to a brief face-off that sparked debate among fans and pundits.

Moments later, Osimhen was substituted, with head coach Eric Chelle appearing unhappy as Moses Simon replaced the Galatasaray striker.

Speaking after the match, Lookman played down the incident, insisting it was nothing more than a normal in-game discussion.

“I haven’t seen him yet. Nothing happened, just a discussion on the pitch. There is no big issue,” Lookman said.

The Atalanta forward instead chose to focus on Nigeria’s overall performance and progress at the tournament.

“It’s been great. The team is improving with every game. We scored four goals today, which is a positive sign for us,” he added.

Lookman has been one of Nigeria’s standout performers at AFCON 2025, scoring three goals and providing four assists, making him one of the most influential players in the competition so far.

Reflecting on his form, the 28-year-old acknowledged the weight of representing Nigeria and how it has fueled his performances.

“I get the opportunity to represent my country, and I know how much that means. So I try to channel that pressure and stay in good form,” he explained.

Looking ahead, Lookman stressed that the Super Eagles will approach the quarter-finals with the same intensity and mindset.

“The quarter-finals of the AFCON is something to look forward to. Another big battle awaits us and we need to be ready for the fight,” he said.

“Just the same mentality from the team. The same mentality to be on the front foot.”

Nigeria will face Algeria in the quarter-finals as they continue their quest for continental glory, buoyed by confidence, form, and a growing sense of unity within the squad.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

See Full Bio