By the time Victor Osimhen went all ballistic against Finidi George in a live video that quickly went viral two weekends ago, the latter was already on his way out of the job as head coach of the Super Eagles.
“Our focus is to resolve all matters around the Super Eagles and be able to look ahead with confidence to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the remaining six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series,” Mohammed Sanusi, general secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said in a statement days later, as he sought to quash rumours of a ban being imposed by the organisation on Osimhen.
How Osimhen's wild outburst – for which he has rightly drawn widespread criticism – is ultimately dealt with would be a subject of public interest. Here are three reasons the NFF would do well to not let the Napoli star get away with a slap on the wrist or, worse still, even let the issue slide.
Finidi's legendary status demands closure
Finidi may no longer be Nigeria head coach, and it was on his own terms that the 53-year-old eventually departed, but he would still feel the sting of Osimhen's attack.
Even if the reigning African Player of the Year's reservations were justified, the means and manner which he chose to air them were altogether inappropriate, and there is no way even the most ardent Osimhen apologists/sympathisers can sugarcoat that.
With both still relatively young in their respective careers – Finidi as a coach, Osimhen as a player – it is almost inevitable their paths will cross again someday, for which reason this issue should not be allowed to fester.
But even if the duo never work together in the future, is it not just right to put this row to bed properly, rather than simply hope it blows over?
Finidi's successor would benefit from a resolution
Osimhen, needless to say, is no mere squad member; he is, at present, Nigeria's most high-profile player, his clout unmatched by any of his teammates.
His voice, quite likely, carries the most weight in the squad, and despite not having the armband, Osimhen is among the team's leaders; should his anticipated nine-figure move to one of European football's powerhouses happen this summer, well, the forward's profile would only grow some more.
If, even before that upgrade, Osimhen is bold enough to publicly take on the Nigeria trainer – albeit just after he vacated the post – you would imagine Finidi's successor, whoever he may be, feeling a bit uneasy about potentially holding his own against the most imposing figure in the dressing room when sensitive matters come up.
That, though, would be no great worry if Osimhen were called to order now.
Victor Osimhen-style outbursts may become the norm
Rows between outspoken Nigerian internationals and national team coaches are, of course, not unheard of. Most of those battles in the past, however, have played out behind the scenes, with only details spilling onto mainstream media.
In that sense, Osimhen's behaviour is on an entirely different level to anything witnessed in the past. He, quite clearly, appreciates the power and reach of social media, harnessing it to achieve his ends.
And unless the authorities concerned make it known in no uncertain terms just how unacceptable such actions are, Osimhen may not be the last to resort to such antics.
Player discipline has never been the Super Eagles’ strongest suit, and, if left unchecked, it may well get even worse from here. It is a chance the NFF should not miss.
