AFCON 2025: What Osimhen told me about Lookman after they clashed – Ighalo

Former Nigeria international, Odion Ighalo has said Victor Osimhen told him that he was angered by what Ademola Lookman told him during their 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of sixteen of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

Osimhen and Lookman had a small disagreement between them during the game against Mozambique.

Ighalo said the incident was minor but added that the media might have made the situation seem worse than it was.

He said to SuperSport, “I think the media is going too far with this, because in games like that, there’s always going to be a lot of emotions, and some players might want it more and act differently. We’ve seen Ronaldo do something like that.

“We’ve seen some big names, though Victor isn’t Ronaldo, but in the Nigerian team, I think Victor is the most important player.

“Even after the game, I didn’t know what happened. I talked to him, and he told me what Lookman said to him made him react like that. I told him not to react that way next time, and we sorted it out in the dressing room.

“And all that which they settled and they are friends, and all that I know, Osimhen, you cannot fault his commitment for the national team. He fights, he scores goals, he does everything for the national team.”

On Osimhen’s temperament and performance, Ighalo explained that the striker often shows his best form when he is highly motivated.

“And the calm Osimhen doesn’t play well.

“You need to watch Osimhen when he’s angry, and then you’ll see his best performance today,” he said.