Chelle clamps down on Osimhen-Lookman incident – “What happened on the pitch will stay in the group”
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has shut down public discourse surrounding the on-field confrontation between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, making it clear the issue will be resolved internally and without exceptions.
Speaking after Nigeria’s emphatic 4-0 victory over Mozambique in the AFCON 2025 round of 16, Chelle left no room for ambiguity, underlining discipline, unity, and collective accountability as non-negotiables within the squad.
“What happened on the pitch will stay in the group,” Chelle said during his post-match press conference on Monday.
“I don’t need to tell you what will happen; I keep that to me. This team is about unity and focus. There is no room for egos here. We have a goal, and everything we do is geared towards achieving that goal.”
Flashpoint during comfortable lead
The incident unfolded in the 63rd minute at the Fez Stadium. With Nigeria already leading 3-0 and Osimhen having scored twice, Lookman opted to take a shot rather than pass to an unmarked Osimhen, who was well-positioned for a potential hat-trick.
Osimhen reacted angrily, pointing and shouting at his teammate before captain Wilfred Ndidi and other players intervened to de-escalate the situation.
Minutes later, Osimhen was withdrawn and appeared visibly frustrated as he headed straight down the tunnel, skipping the post-match celebrations.
Squad closes ranks ahead of quarter-final
Within the camp, the emphasis has shifted firmly on damage control. Lookman downplayed the confrontation, describing Osimhen as the team’s “number one guy” and insisting the disagreement was insignificant in the context of the win.
Ndidi echoed same message, stressing that the squad remains united and fully aligned with the tournament objective.
Nigeria’s dominant performance secured a place in the quarter-finals, where the Super Eagles will face either Algeria or DR Congo as they continue their pursuit of a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title.
