Trouble in Nigerian AFCON paradise: Fuming Osimhen wants to leave national team?!

Three wins in as many group stage games - the only perfect record at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Algeria - and a crushing 4-0 triumph over Mozambique in the Round of 16, and still, not enough to keep the peace in the Nigerian national team.

Moreover, alarms have been raised, and the situation is critical, threatening to escalate. The troublemaker? None other than Victor Osimhen!

Namely, despite the Super Eagles' magnificent performance against the Mambas and although he scored a brace, the Galatasaray striker became fuming with his teammates during the second half, all because they didn't pass him the ball when and as often as he expected it.

AFCON 2025: Super Eagles dismantle Mozambique to secure quarterfinals ticket

According to Arise News, Osimhen's first target was Ademola Lookman, and it wouldn't be so odd if the Atalanta forward didn't assist for both the striker's goals last night! Moreover, Osimhen scored three goals in total during the tournament, and Lookman set him up for each of those!

Still, Ademola's assists and the fact that the duo celebrated both goals against the Mambas together did not prevent Victor's rage.

Lookman reportedly ignited the fire, while Akor Adams and Bruno Onyemaechi's "selfishness" was the last straw. At one point, Osimhen even tried to get into a physical altercation with Lookman, as the Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi and the Mozambique defender Reinildo Mandava (?!), had to react, break up the two, and prevent the escalation.

Given the situation, the Super Eagles boss, Eric Chelle, was forced to sub off Osimhen in the 68th minute, replacing him with Moses Simon, but the drama did not end there. Oh, it had just begun...

After the referee's final whistle, the former Napoli striker allegedly went straight to the locker room, refusing to join his teammates' huddle on the pitch. Furthermore, he left the locker room first and sat alone on the team bus while the rest of the players were speaking to the press.

Sources from the Super Eagles' camp claim that Osimhen dropped his accreditation and stated that he was done with the national team, requesting to return to Turkey.

Now, the ball is in the Nigeria Football Federation's court, as they must calm their superstar down. Otherwise, they could risk the entire 2025 AFCON campaign at a moment when they are arguably the first favourites to win the trophy.

AFCON 2025 - ROUND OF 16

Saturday

Senegal - Sudan 3-1 (2-1)

/Gueye 29, 45+3, Mbaye 77 - Abdallah 6/

Mali - Tunisia 1-1 (3-2 after penalties)

/Sinayoko 90+6 pen - Chaouat 88/

Sunday

Morocco - Tanzania 1-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 64/

South Africa - Cameroon 1-2 (0-1)

/Makgopa 88 - Tchamadeu 34, Kofane 47/

Monday

Egypt - Benin 3-1 a.e.t. (1-1)

/Attia 69, Ibrahim 97, Salah 120+4 - Dossou 83/

Nigeria - Mozambique 4-0 (2-0)

/Lookman 20, Osimhen 25, 47, Adams 75/

Tuesday

Algeria - DR Congo 1-0 a.e.t. (0-0)

/Boulbina 119/

Ivory Coast - Burkina Faso IN PROGRESS