By Our Reporter
Former Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh, has blamed Nigeria’s failure to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco on what he described as indiscipline by star striker Victor Osimhen.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh said a public confrontation between Osimhen and teammate Ademola Lookman disrupted team harmony and weakened Nigeria’s title push at a critical stage of the tournament.
Oliseh referenced an on-field altercation during Nigeria’s 4–0 Round of 16 victory over Mozambique, where Osimhen appeared to angrily reprimand Lookman for not releasing the ball in a promising attacking move. Although the Super Eagles progressed comfortably, the incident drew criticism from fans who viewed Osimhen’s conduct as unprofessional.
According to Oliseh, the fallout affected the team beyond that match, arguing that Lookman’s form declined afterward, reducing Nigeria’s attacking effectiveness in the semifinal.
“We are confusing talent with licence,” Oliseh said. “Victor Osimhen is world-class, but talent is not a licence to destroy team chemistry.”
He added that publicly rebuking teammates damages confidence and unity, especially in high-stakes matches. Oliseh noted that Lookman had been Nigeria’s most dangerous attacking player statistically before the incident, but lost focus afterward.
“When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit. Against a tactically strong team like Morocco, we needed everyone at their best,” he said.
Oliseh also criticised what he described as a growing fan culture that tolerates indiscipline, warning that such attitudes could damage Nigerian football in the long term.
His comments extended to Osimhen’s previous public criticism of former Super Eagles coach Finidi George, which Oliseh described as another example of unchecked excess.
While acknowledging Osimhen’s importance to the national team, Oliseh stressed that no player is bigger than the team.
“Scoring goals doesn’t give anyone the right to disrespect teammates, coaches, or legends of the game. We respected the jersey and understood that character matters more than temporary success,” he said.
Oliseh further questioned the celebrations that followed Nigeria’s third-place finish, after the Super Eagles defeated Egypt on penalties to claim the bronze medal.
“There was a time when finishing second felt like failure. Celebrating third place builds a culture of mediocrity,” he concluded.