Osimhen-Lookman Row: NFF dismisses ruckus in Nigeria camp

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has played down reports of unrest in the Super Eagles camp following Victor Osimhen’s outburst toward teammate Ademola Lookman.

In an official statement released through Dayo Enebi Achor, the  Administrator, the NFF shut down insinuations and dark innuendoes of a rumpus in the team following Monday night’s 4-0 thrashing of Mozambique’s Mambas, which progressed the three-time champions to the last-8 of the 35th  AFCON  in Morocco.

In a tense scene in the  encounter against Mozambique, striker Victor Osimhen was seen confronting forward Ademola Lookman just before a corner kick which according to the NFF, had been ‘conjectures of various complexions in the legacy and digital media’.

According to the Team Administrator,  the issue has  been resolved:  “There is no problem whatsoever in our camp. Whatever people saw as a crisis between two brothers was easily resolved a couple of hours later. All is good and we are presently at training.”

Achor also dismissed reports that striker Jerome Akor Adams – who scored his first ever AFCON goal on the night – abandoned the team camp.

“He took permission to go and see his mother who was hospitalized here in Fès, and returned in less than an hour.”

Lookman has since played down reports of a rift between and Victor Osimhen, insisting there is no issue between the pair.

“I haven’t talked to Victor Osimhen since the game, but what matters is that we won,” Lookman said in his post-match interview. “He is a top player and very important to the team. For me, there is no big issue.”

The winger also addressed Nigeria’s recent failure to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, urging the team to remain focused on their AFCON objective.