Oliseh blames Osimhen’s conduct for Super Eagles’ AFCON failure
Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has criticised Victor Osimhen over his conduct during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying it played a role in Nigeria’s failure to win the tournament.
Oliseh made the remarks on his YouTube programme, Sunday Oliseh’s Global Football Insights, where he argued that Osimhen’s behaviour negatively affected team morale and disrupted the Super Eagles’ cohesion at a critical stage of the competition.
He pointed to an on-pitch confrontation involving Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi during Nigeria’s round-of-16 victory over Mozambique as a turning point. The incident occurred in the 63rd minute with Nigeria leading 3–0, forcing captain Wilfred Ndidi and other players to intervene before Osimhen requested to be substituted.
According to Oliseh, the altercation had a damaging psychological effect on Lookman, who had been Nigeria’s most influential player at the tournament up to that point.
“We are confusing talent with licence,” Oliseh said. “Victor Osimhen is world class, but talent is not a licence to destroy team chemistry. When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit and destroy the confidence needed to win big matches.”
He noted that although Nigeria progressed from the match comfortably, Lookman’s influence declined in the latter stages of the competition, as the team struggled to score in the semi-final and third-place encounters.
Oliseh also criticised what he described as a growing culture of entitlement among players and fans, warning that individual brilliance should never override respect for teammates, coaches and the national jersey. He further cautioned against celebrating anything short of winning the tournament, saying such attitudes encourage mediocrity and lower standards within the national team.
The former midfielder concluded by stressing that discipline, respect and unity remain essential if Nigeria is to reclaim its status as Africa’s leading football nation.
