AFCON 2025: “I like that Lookman and Osimhen had a fight on the pitch” — Mikel Obi

Former Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel has downplayed concerns over a viral on-field disagreement between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s recent AFCON match.

Speaking calmly on the issue, Mikel said the brief confrontation should be seen as a sign of commitment and competitiveness rather than division within the squad.

Mikel Defends On-Field Passion

The former Chelsea midfielder shared his views on the Obi One Podcast, where he analysed the moment between the two Nigerian forwards during the game.

According to Mikel, such exchanges often reflect hunger, intensity, and a shared desire to win, which are key traits of successful teams.

“I like the fact that they both had an argument on the pitch. I like that they had a fight on the pitch. I want to see that,” he said.

Mikel explained that players who truly care about results will naturally challenge each other when standards drop during matches.

Drawing from his experience at club and international level, he noted that harmony alone does not win trophies.

“I’ve never seen a nice team that wins trophies,” he added, stressing that strong personalities often collide because of high expectations.

Mikel concluded that disagreements are healthy if they remain on the pitch and are resolved quickly.

He described the intensity shown by Osimhen and Lookman as a positive signal as Nigeria prepares for future competitions.