Victor Osimhen clears air on rumoured tension with Lookman after CAF POTY Award

By: Monsurah Olatunji

Nigeria forwardVictor Osimhen has dismissed rumours of a rift between him and Ademola Lookman following the latter’s 2024 CAF Player of the Year win.

The Napoli striker, who held the title the previous year, was widely speculated to have shown discontent after Lookman succeeded him, especially after fans noticed that Osimhen did not publicly congratulate his compatriot.

However, speaking on the ObiOne Podcast with Super Eagles legend John Obi-Mikel, Osimhen revealed that the two have maintained a strong relationship, despite the lack of social media interactions.

He clarified that he had already congratulated Lookman privately, long before the award ceremony.

“I have a great relationship with him, not on social media, but we used to speak a lot, even with his father. I already spoke with him,” Osimhen explained.

“Two months before he won it, I told him in person, and we chatted on WhatsApp. I said, ‘You deserve it. Keep doing it like this, and you’re going to win it for sure, hundred per cent.’”

Osimhen also reflected on the significance of Lookman’s win, stating that the award was not a “crown” but simply his turn to wear it. He praised the achievement for both Lookman and Nigeria, saying it was a big moment for the country.

“First of all, it was never my crown, it was just my turn to wear it. To be able to come back again, that a Nigerian won it, is a big achievement for the country, for Lookman, and for his family,” Osimhen added.

Looking to the future, Osimhen expressed optimism about more Nigerian players competing for the prestigious title, highlighting the emerging talent in the Super Eagles.

“For me, I hope it [CAF POTY] is going to come back to Nigeria. We have a lot of quality players who can also win it: him [Lookman], me, Boniface, and the rest of the guys.”

With Osimhen’s backing and the rising talents in Nigerian football, the future looks bright for the Super Eagles in their quest for more continental accolades.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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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