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Nigeria’s commanding 4–0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) on Monday was briefly overshadowed by an on-field altercation between two of its star players, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
The incident occurred in the 62nd minute of the match in Fes, Morocco, as Nigeria led 3–0. During a corner kick, Osimhen and Lookman exchanged heated words before physically approaching one another. Wilfried Ndidi, Nigeria’s captain and a midfielder for Besiktas, quickly intervened to prevent the dispute from escalating further.
Both players appeared visibly agitated after the confrontation, and while Lookman stayed on the pitch, Osimhen gestured to the bench, requesting to be substituted.
Shortly after the clash, head coach Eric Chelle substituted Osimhen in the 68th minute, sending on winger Moses Simon in his place. Osimhen, who had scored twice earlier in the match, left the pitch visibly frustrated.
Local media reported that the disagreement stemmed from positioning and decision-making during the corner play, though neither player publicly addressed the issue after the match. The incident came as a surprise given the productive chemistry both players had shown throughout the evening.
Ademola Lookman, reportedly on the radar of Turkish archrivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce for the January transfer window, played a central role in the victory. The Atalanta forward scored Nigeria’s opening goal in the 20th minute and provided two assists, earning Man of the Match honors.
Lookman set up both of Osimhen’s goals, the first with a curling cross from the left that led to a close-range finish in the 25th minute, and the second with a low pass across the face of the goal shortly after halftime. He later assisted Sevilla striker Akor Adams, who sealed the 4–0 result in the 75th minute.
Osimhen, who currently plays for Galatasaray, brought his tournament tally to three goals with the brace. Despite the dispute, the pair had shown effective attacking coordination earlier in the game.
With the result, Nigeria secured a place in the quarter-finals and will face either Algeria or the Democratic Republic of Congo in Marrakesh on Saturday. A potential match-up with DR Congo would offer the Super Eagles a chance to avenge their penalty shootout loss to the Leopards in a 2025 World Cup qualifying play-off.
Following the match, Lookman praised the team’s overall effort. "It was a good performance from the team, scoring four goals. There is lots to be happy with," he said.
While Nigeria’s campaign remains on track, the brief on-field clash between two high-profile teammates has drawn attention.
Neither player has publicly commented on the incident.
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