Former captain of the Super Eagles, Sunday Oliseh, has expressed that Nigeria's failure to secure the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations championship in Morocco is due to what he describes as 'indiscipline' displayed by Victor Osimhen. He argues that individual misconduct undermined the team's cohesion at a critical phase in the competition.
In a discussion on his YouTube channel, Oliseh emphasized that Osimhen's public altercation with teammate Ademola Lookman during Nigeria's 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16 disrupted the overall synergy within the squad and diminished their opportunities for success. The incident occurred during the match when Osimhen seemingly chastised Lookman for not passing the ball swiftly during an offensive play, provoking backlash from fans who deemed the striker's behavior unprofessional.
Oliseh further asserted that the repercussions of this incident extended beyond just the match against Mozambique, as Lookman’s performance noticeably declined afterward, adversely impacting Nigeria’s attacking prowess in the semifinal.
"Let’s examine the toxicity that may have cost us the AFCON title," he remarked. "We are mixing up talent with permission. While Victor Osimhen is indeed world-class, possessing talent is not an authorization to disrupt team chemistry."
He elaborated, "Look at the outcomes. Following his public outburst directed at Ademola Lookman, who was one of our standout players, he turned into a mere shadow of himself, which led to a significant loss in our offensive threat. When you publicly undermine your teammates, you shatter their spirit."
Oliseh remarked that Lookman had been one of the most effective players of the tournament until that instance of public verbal confrontation caused him to lose focus. This, he claimed, resulted in Nigeria losing the 'psychological advantage necessary to outperform' a well-organized Moroccan team in the semifinal.
In addition, Oliseh criticized what he referred to as a troubling fan culture that appears to accept such behavior. "What’s more concerning, and indeed what poses a grave risk to our football, is the fan culture that now condones this sort of behavior," he stated.
His critique also extended to Osimhen's prior public remarks directed at former Super Eagles coach Finidi George. While recognizing Osimhen's contributions, Oliseh emphasized that no individual player surpasses the national team's importance.
"Scoring goals for Nigeria does not grant one the right to show disrespect towards established legends like Finidi George or Victor Ikpeba. It does not entitle you to disrespect your coaches or fellow players," he argued. "If merely scoring justifies arrogance, then what should the legends who propelled Nigeria to the height of global football, such as Amokachi, Amunike, Okocha, Babangida, and myself, do? Walk over others?"
Oliseh cautioned that persistent indiscipline and poor management could jeopardize the future of the team. "If we fail to address the issues of discipline and administration, there will no longer be a Super Eagles to rally behind," he warned.
He also critiqued the jubilant reactions following Nigeria's third-place finish, which came after defeating Egypt in a penalty shootout, stating, "There was a time when the Super Eagles would cry at finishing second, as for us, anything less than the trophy was deemed a failure; celebrating third place fosters a culture of mediocrity."
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