Nigeria booked their place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with an emphatic 4-0 win over Mozambique but the night in Fez was shaped as much by controversy as by goals, footynaija.com reports.
Victor Osimhen, who had scored a brace as the Super Eagles swept aside the Mambas, became the centre of attention for the wrong reasons after a heated exchange with Ademola Lookman midway through the second half.
🎥 HIGHLIGHTS: 🇳🇬 4–0 🇲🇿
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Nigeria put on a show in the Round of 16. Moving on to the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 quarter-finals. pic.twitter.com/ArgpiKWTuo
With Nigeria already three goals ahead, the Galatasaray striker angrily confronted Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi for failing to pass to him in promising positions.
The argument quickly escalated, forcing captain Wilfred Ndidi, defender Calvin Bassey and even Mozambique’s Reinildo Mandava to step in to calm the situation.
Osimhen was substituted soon after and cut a frustrated figure, heading straight down the tunnel at full time and skipping the team’s on-pitch celebrations and media duties.
However, both Lookman and Ndidi moved quickly to downplay any suggestion of a rift in the camp.
“He is our number one guy — my brother,” Lookman said. “We won 4-0. That is what matters.”
Ndidi described the incident as a product of “competitive mindset”, adding that the issue had already been addressed inside the dressing room.
Head coach Eric Chelle insisted the matter would be handled internally, saying:
“Everything that happens in the life of the group stays in the group.”
Nigeria will look to put the incident behind them as they prepare for their quarter-final clash with either Algeria or DR Congo.
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