AFCON 2025: Ighalo Backs Osimhen, Slams Calls for Super Eagles Star’s Ouster
Former Super Eagles striker, Odion Ighalo, has criticised calls for Victor Osimhen to be dropped from the Nigeria squad, insisting the Napoli forward remains indispensable as the Super Eagles continue their Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
Nigeria booked a place in the semi-finals on Saturday after a composed 2-0 victory over Algeria in Marrakech, with Osimhen and Akor Adams scoring the goals that settled the quarter-final encounter.
The win followed earlier controversy involving Osimhen after a heated exchange with teammate Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s round of 16 victory over Mozambique, an incident that sparked debate over the striker’s conduct.
Osimhen has since responded on the pitch, scoring four goals at the tournament to sit one behind Spain-born forward Brahim Diaz on the scorers’ chart. His two assists have also taken his total goal contributions to six, just one fewer than Lookman.
His strike against Algeria was his 35th goal in 51 appearances for Nigeria, leaving him two goals shy of the late Rashidi Yekini on the country’s all-time scoring list.
Speaking while analysing the quarter-final on SuperSport, Ighalo dismissed suggestions that Osimhen’s reaction had become a distraction in the camp, describing the backlash as overblown.
“Well, I think the media are taking it too far,” Ighalo said. “In games like that, there are always emotions. Players want it badly and react differently. We have seen Ronaldo do things like that. Though Victor is not Ronaldo, in the Nigeria team he is the biggest player for me.”
The former Manchester United striker argued that elite players should not be cast aside over emotional outbursts if a team is serious about success.
“If Ronaldo does that to Mbappé or anyone else, are you going to send him away from the team? No. I’m not saying Victor is Ronaldo, but in the Super Eagles he is our biggest player. What he did was not right, but they have settled it,” he added.
Ighalo revealed that he spoke directly with Osimhen after the incident and confirmed that the matter had been resolved internally.
“After the game, I spoke to him and he explained what happened. I told him not to react like that next time. They sorted it out in the dressing room and they are friends,” he said.
The confrontation occurred during Nigeria’s 4-0 win over Mozambique in Fès, when Osimhen, chasing a hat-trick, reacted angrily after not receiving a pass from Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi, leading to a verbal exchange that required intervention from captain Wilfred Ndidi and other players.
Despite the episode, Ighalo insisted Osimhen’s commitment to the national team remained unquestionable, praising his work ethic and influence.
“You cannot fault his commitment. He fights, he scores goals and he gives everything for the national team,” he said, while also commending head coach Eric Chelle for handling the situation calmly behind closed doors.
With Osimhen back among the goals and Nigeria through to the last four, Ighalo urged supporters to focus on the Super Eagles’ title push rather than internal issues he believes have already been resolved.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and good governance.
