Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has come under intense social media fire after accusing Victor Osimhen of playing a role in Nigeria’s failure to win the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with fans reviving controversial moments from Oliseh’s own career to counter his claims.
Oliseh, speaking in comments, alleged that Osimhen’s “toxicity” and emotional outbursts during the tournament disrupted team chemistry and ultimately cost the Super Eagles the AFCON title in Morocco.
He specifically pointed to a heated on-field exchange between Osimhen and Ademola Lookman, suggesting it negatively affected the winger’s performance and the team’s mental balance.
The remarks immediately sparked backlash, with many Nigerian fans questioning Oliseh’s moral authority to lecture anyone on discipline or team harmony.
Fans Respond With “Receipts”
Within hours of Oliseh’s comments going viral, fans resurfaced a widely documented incident from March 2004, when Oliseh was sacked by German club VfL Bochum.
At the time, his loan deal from Borussia Dortmund was terminated after he reportedly headbutted teammate Vahid Hashemian in the dressing room, allegedly breaking the Iranian striker’s nose following a goalless draw against Hansa Rostock.
Online reactions were swift and unforgiving. One fan sarcastically noted that Oliseh was “speaking from experience,” while another bluntly wrote: “When we talk about discipline, no be Oliseh go dey talk. Just dey look.”
Irony Not Lost on Fans
The contrast between Oliseh’s criticism of Osimhen and his own career history quickly became the dominant talking point.
While Oliseh argued that Osimhen publicly berating Lookman drained the team’s confidence during the AFCON semi-finals, supporters countered that Oliseh himself had a long record of clashes with teammates and football authorities.
Fans also recalled that Oliseh was left out of Nigeria’s 2002 World Cup squad due to disciplinary issues, further weakening his stance in the eyes of many.
“You broke a teammate’s nose and you’re talking about team spirit?” one viral post read.
‘Talent Is Not a License’
In his critique, Oliseh warned against excusing bad behaviour because of star quality.
“We are confusing talent with license,” he said. “Victor Osimhen is world class, but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry.”
While some observers agree that Osimhen’s fiery temperament can be managed better, many feel Oliseh’s history has overshadowed his message. To a large section of the fanbase, the former Super Eagles coach whose own tenure was marked by controversy is ill-positioned to deliver lectures on discipline.
Despite the off-field debate, Nigeria finished AFCON 2025 with a bronze medal and had three players named in the CAF Best XI. Osimhen, meanwhile, has returned to club action with Galatasaray and remains focused on his football.
Whether the Super Eagles striker will respond directly to Oliseh’s criticism remains unclear. What is certain, however, is that Nigerian fans have made their position known and for now, they are firmly backing their number nine.
