“It heated up” – Super Eagles coach clarifies Osimhen-Lookman AFCON 2025 rift

Super Eagles head coach Eric Sekhou Chelle has given a proper breakdown of the rift that ensued between Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen during the AFCON 2025 tournament, Afrik Foot reports.

The three-time AFCON Champions breezed through their group stage games before they took on Mozambique in the round of 16.

Ademola Lookman had scored, while Osimhen had also chimed in with a double. However, a clash broke out in the 63rd minute after failing to receive a pass.

Bruno Onyemaechi found himself in unfamiliar territory on the edge of the Mozambican box, and with Osimhen free on the right, the full-back opted to go for goal himself, which initially put the striker off.

The ball then fell to Lookman, who opted to recycle possession rather than keep the attack going. Osimhen lashed out, telling the Atalanta forward, “Hey, this is a team game,” to which Lookman replied, “But you already scored two goals.”

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Captain Wilfred Ndidi’s attempt to calm the Galatasaray striker down was met with a cold shoulder, and Osimhen was taken off shortly afterwards as he refused to involve himself in the passage of play.

Super Eagles: Eric Chelle speaks on Lookman-Osimhen rift

While several people called out the Galatasaray striker for the clash, the Nigerian head coach revealed the issues were sorted after the game against Mozambique.

“On the ground, there was a discussion with Lookman. Victor told him, ‘We need to stop playing in front of the goal,” the Franco-Malian tactician told RMC Sport.

“It heated up a little, a little clash, but it’s part of a locker room’s life. At the end of the game, he comes home angry, and he needs time to cool down.

“And once he comes down, he becomes the Victor we know again. There has never been a question of not playing against Algeria, ever.

“What happens in the dressing room stays in the locker room. I didn’t even have to intervene. We went back to the hotel, they both talked, and it was over.

“In front of the goals, these two guys, it’s very high level.

“In front of the goals, these two guys are very high. Victor, this is a machine. If he doesn’t do his specific routine, if he doesn’t score in training, it drives him crazy.

“He wants to win everything. For him, this is not fair. Lookman, it’s the same, but calmer.

“Frankly, I saw some other strikers, but hitting the ball like those two? Right foot, left foot, it’s very, very high level,” the former RC Lens defender concluded.

While Nigeria fell short against Morocco in the semi-final, they claimed the Bronze medal against Egypt in the AFCON 2025 third-place game.