AFCON 2025: Moses Simon Dismisses Talk of Rift After Osimhen–Lookman Moment

Nigeria winger Moses Simon has played down concerns over a brief on-field incident involving Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16 of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The moment, which attracted attention during the match at the Complexe Sportif de Fès, sparked speculation among fans and pundits, but Simon insisted there was nothing out of the ordinary and emphasised the strong unity within the Nigerian camp.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the game, the Paris FC forward dismissed claims of any issue between the players.

“I think I didn’t see anything actually, which some people said he did something bad,” Simon said.

He explained that such moments are common in competitive football, especially within a team filled with driven and ambitious players all pushing for success.

Highlighting Osimhen’s character and importance to the squad, Simon added: “But of course we are a team, there’s nothing to talk about. He’s a guy we know, he’s always a fighter in the team. Of course he will still fight for us.”

Simon further underlined the mutual dependence and togetherness within the Super Eagles squad as they continue their AFCON campaign.

“We need him and the team needs him, and I believe he needs us also. We just need to keep going,” he said.

Nigeria’s dominant display against Mozambique showcased both attacking flair and defensive discipline, with goals from Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen—who netted twice—and Akor Adams sealing a comfortable passage into the quarter-finals.

With confidence high and harmony intact within the camp, the Super Eagles will now shift focus to the next round against Algeria, determined to build on their momentum and push further in their quest for continental glory at AFCON 2025.

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.

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