The echoes of Nigeria’s failed pursuit of African glory have taken a sharp, analytical turn as Super Eagles icon Sunday Oliseh breaks his silence. In a scathing post-mortem of the tournament, the 1994 AFCON winner identified a singular, psychological turning point that derailed the national team: Victor Osimhen’s temperament.
While the Super Eagles eventually secured a bronze medal after a hard-fought victory over Egypt, Oliseh argues that the team’s spirit was broken long before the final whistle, citing a viral confrontation during the Round of 16 clash against Mozambique as the catalyst for their downfall.
“Talent is Not License”: The Mozambique Incident
According to Oliseh, who provided expert commentary throughout the tournament, the cracks appeared despite Nigeria’s dominant on-field performance against Mozambique. Even with a three-goal lead, Osimhen reportedly erupted in fury when teammates Ademola Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi opted for individual efforts rather than feeding him for a hat-trick.
The resulting “reprehensible rant” and subsequent demand to be substituted created a rift that Oliseh believes never truly healed.
“We are confusing talent with license,” Oliseh stated on his YouTube channel. “Victor Osimhen is world-class, but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry. When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit.”
The “Lookman Factor” and Psychological Erosion
Oliseh pointed to a specific decline in the performance of Ademola Lookman as empirical evidence of the damage done. Before the altercation, Lookman was widely considered the tournament’s standout performer. In the aftermath, Oliseh claims the winger became a “shadow of himself.”
The Impact on Team Dynamics:
Lost Momentum: Nigeria lost the “bite” and clinical edge that characterized their early games.
Demoralized Playmakers: Oliseh argues that creative players cannot perform “miracles” when they are being publicly berated by their own strikers.
Tactical Vulnerability: Against high-caliber opponents like Morocco, the lack of psychological cohesion proved fatal.
The former national team captain didn’t stop at the Mozambique incident. He drew a direct line between Osimhen’s recent conduct and previous public spats with coaching staff and Nigerian football legends.
Incident Target of Outburst Oliseh’s Perspective
On-Field Clash Ademola Lookman “Destroyed the confidence needed for a semifinal.”
Social Media Rant Finidi George “Scoring goals doesn’t give you the right to disrespect legends.”
Technical Critique Victor Ikpeba “If we don’t fix discipline, there won’t be a Super Eagles left.”
Oliseh warned that a burgeoning “fan culture” is enabling this behavior by shielding the Galatasaray striker from accountability. “If the administration doesn’t step in, the very fabric of the team is at risk,” he cautioned.
As the dust settles on a third-place finish, the focus shifts back to the pitch. Victor Osimhen has returned to Istanbul, where he is slated to lead the line for Galatasaray in a high-stakes Champions League encounter against Atletico Madrid.
However, for the Nigerian faithful, Oliseh’s words serve as a sobering reminder: while goals win matches, it is often the invisible bond of brotherhood that wins championships.
