Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has addressed the brief on-field argument between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s Round of 16 clash against Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The incident, which sparked widespread discussion during the tournament, involved a minor disagreement over attacking positioning. Chelle explained in an interview with After Foot RMC:
“On the pitch, there was a discussion with Lookman. Victor told him, ‘We need to stop playing in front of goal.’ Things got a little heated, a minor altercation, but that’s part of locker room life,” he said.
Chelle reassured fans that the disagreement did not affect the team’s performance or selection:
“At the end of the match, he went home upset; he needed time to calm down. And once he did, he became the Victor we know again. There was never any question of him not playing against Algeria in the quarterfinal. What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. I didn’t even need to intervene. We went back to the hotel, they talked it over, and that was it.”
The coach also praised the striking duo for their dedication and professionalism:
“In front of goal, those two guys are top-level. Even better, this tension would almost make sense when you’re talking about two strikers obsessed with scoring. Victor is a machine. If he doesn’t do his specific striker drills or score in training, it drives him crazy. He wants to win everything. For him, it’s not a funfair. Lookman is the same, but calmer,” Chelle said.
“Frankly, I’ve seen strikers, but to strike the ball like they do, right foot, left foot… that’s a very, very high level.”
Chelle’s comments highlighted that while tempers can flare in high-pressure games, professionalism and team unity remain paramount for the Super Eagles.
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