The Super Eagles of Nigeria are through to the quarter-finals of AFCON 2025 after a comfortable 4-0 victory over The Mambas of Mozambique. Nigeria’s front three shone with Victor Osimhen (2 goals), Akor Adams (1 goal, 2 assists) and Ademola Lookman (1 goal, 2 assists) playing roles in all four goals.

The spotlight should be on the team’s performance, from defence (a first clean sheet) to a solid midfield and potent attacking display, but unfortunately, most of the post-match attention has drifted away from the team effort. Victor Osimhen, despite his decisive contribution on the pitch, has once again found himself at the centre of discussion off it.

In the 63rd minute, with Nigeria 3-0 up, Osimhen was seen angrily confronting Bruno Onyemaechi after he failed to pass him the ball in an earlier passage of play. Ademola Lookman stepped up in Onyemaechi’s defence and got the same angry reaction from Osimhen. Onyemaechi should have passed the ball, or perhaps not. These are split-second decisions made in the intensity of a match, and from the outside, it’s difficult to fully judge what unfolds on the pitch, but Osimhen’s reaction suggested this was some unforgivable slight. He then signalled to be substituted off afterwards, a move that was greeted with boos and whistles from the fans. After the game, he walked straight down the tunnel, refusing to celebrate with his teammates.

This Is a Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident

These outbursts are not new with Victor Osimhen. There was the infamous Instagram Live rant in 2024 where he lashed out at former Super Eagles captain Finidi George after reports suggested the coach had questioned his commitment to Nigeria, a tirade so disrespectful it shocked Nigerian football fans. He was visibly frustrated and had words with Eric Chelle after he was substituted against Tanzania in the first game of AFCON 2025. After a 1-1 draw with Zimbabwe in March 2025, he was apparently displeased with his teammates and showed it on the pitch, refusing to talk to any of them. Victor Boniface even tried to appeal to him, but he pushed him away.  

At club level during his time with Napoli, the behaviour was just as problematic. In July 2022, Osimhen was sent off training by Napoli Head Coach Luciano Spalletti after becoming visibly angry about being fouled by new teammate Leo Ostigard.

A year later, in September 2023, he had a touchline spat with then-coach Rudi Garcia after being substituted during a match against Bologna, gestures so blatant that Napoli considered fining him.

There is no doubting Osimhen’s talent. He’s the best Nigerian striker in years, and he will end his career as Nigeria’s highest goalscorer ever, but his behaviour is terrible. Football is a team sport, and the moment you try to make it all about you, you’ve lost the plot. Victor Osimhen has three goals at AFCON 2025; Ademola Lookman has assisted him twice. The game state at 3-0 did not in any way require such a reaction, whether Lookman should have passed the ball to him or not.

Why This Matters Right Now

Nigeria are heading into the quarter-finals with genuine momentum for the first time in years. Eric Chelle has somehow galvanised a squad that looked dysfunctional months ago. The chemistry between Lookman, Osimhen, and Akor Adams has been the foundation of that success. But chemistry is fragile, and Osimhen’s public tantrum toward Lookman—the very player who has been instrumental in setting him up—threatens to poison the atmosphere at the worst possible time.

Knockout football requires unity. One incident like this can create fractures in the dressing room. Do Onyemaechi and  Lookman now second-guess passing to Osimhen? Do other players start walking on eggshells around him? The timing couldn’t be worse, and if this festers, it could derail what has been a surprisingly promising campaign.

The Leadership Vacuum

Another troubling reality is that nobody is willing to put him in check. Not captain Wilfred Ndidi, not manager Eric Chelle, not even the Nigeria Football Federation. Everyone keeps massaging his ego because he’s Nigeria’s best player. This is the problem with Nigerian football: we have a long history of allowing star players to operate above the team.

Ndidi, as captain, has to be sterner, both in public and in private. Chelle, meanwhile, needs to make it clear that there will be real consequences for this behaviour. If Osimhen has another public outburst, he should be benched for the following match, regardless of his goal-scoring record. The message needs to be sent that no one is bigger than the team. If a fine is deemed appropriate, levy it. If a statement of apology is required, demand it. The worst thing Chelle can do is nothing.

The Nigeria Football Federation also bears responsibility. They need to back Chelle if he decides to enforce discipline. Nigerian football has suffered for years because administrators lack the courage to manage egos.

I love Victor Osimhen. I’m sure every Nigerian does too, but he cannot continue like this. If there are public outbursts like this on the pitch, imagine what goes on behind the scenes. The Super Eagles are surprisingly in a good place right now, and Eric Chelle shouldn’t allow Osimhen to ruin the vibe.

Osimhen himself needs to show greater maturity. He’s on track to be Nigeria’s greatest striker ever, but legacy isn’t just about goals; there’s leadership, maturity, and how you carry yourself when things don’t go your way. Right now, he’s failing that test.

Football is a team sport, and he needs to understand that.