The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to quell rumors of unrest within the Super Eagles squad following an on-field confrontation between star striker Victor Osimhen and winger Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 4-0 victory over Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The incident occurred just before a corner kick in the match, with television footage showing Osimhen appearing to angrily confront Lookman. This sparked widespread speculation and media reports of a rift between the two key players.
In an official statement, the NFF, through Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor, dismissed these reports as “conjectures of various complexions” and “dark innuendoes.” Achor emphasized that the team’s focus remains on their AFCON campaign, stating that what was perceived as a crisis “was easily resolved a couple of hours later” and that “All is good and we are presently at training.”
The federation also addressed separate rumors concerning striker Jerome Akor Adams, who scored his first AFCON goal in the match.
Dismissing claims that Adams had abandoned the team camp, Achor clarified that the player “took permission to go and see his mother who was hospitalized here in Fès, and returned in less than an hour.”
Ademola Lookman himself downplayed the incident in a post-match interview. While acknowledging he hadn’t spoken to Osimhen since the game, Lookman stressed, “what matters is that we won.” He described Osimhen as “a top player and very important to the team” and insisted, “For me, there is no big issue.”
The NFF’s swift intervention aims to project a united front as the three-time champions prepare for their quarter-final clash in Morocco.
