Osimhen’s indiscipline cost Nigeria the AFCON title. He is world-class but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry — Oliseh

Osimhen’s indiscipline cost Nigeria the AFCON title. He is world-class but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry — Oliseh

Former fantastic Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has blamed Nigeria’s failure to win the 2025 Africa Cup of countries in Morocco on what he termed “indiscipline” through Victor Osimhen, arguing that individual excesses damaged group team spirit at a vital level of the event.

talking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh said Osimhen’s public confrontation with teammate Ademola Lookman at some point of Nigeria’s four–0 round of sixteen win over Mozambique disrupted the squad’s chemistry and weakened their name possibilities. throughout the fit, Osimhen appeared to rebuke Lookman for no longer releasing the ball in an attacking circulate, an incident that drew backlash from enthusiasts who criticised the striker’s behavior as unprofessional.

Oliseh claimed the effects were felt beyond the Mozambique fixture, insisting Lookman’s form dipped tremendously afterwards, affecting Nigeria’s attacking efficiency inside the semifinal.

“let’s study the toxicity that could have cost us the AFCON title,” he said. “we are difficult talent with licence. Victor Osimhen is global-magnificence, however intelligence is not a license to damage group chemistry.”

“study the evidence. considering the fact that that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, considered one of our brightest lighting fixtures, he became a shadow of himself, and we misplaced our chew. when you publicly lessen your teammates, you destroy their spirit.”

He introduced that Lookman have been “the maximum risky participant inside the event till that public verbal abuse broke his consciousness,” arguing that Nigeria misplaced “the psychological area needed to win” towards a disciplined Moroccan facet inside the semifinal.

Oliseh additionally criticised what he defined as a fan culture that now tolerates such behaviour: “What’s worse, and admittedly, what’s most risky for our soccer is the fan way of life that now tolerates this.”

His critique widened to encompass Osimhen’s in advance public feedback attacking former awesome Eagles educate Finidi George. whilst acknowledging Osimhen’s price, Oliseh pressured that no player is greater than the countrywide group.

“Scoring goals for Nigeria doesn’t come up with a licence to disrespect licensed legends like Finidi George or Victor Ikpeba. It doesn’t give you the proper to disrespect your coaches or teammates,” he said. “If dreams by myself justified conceitedness, what need to the legends who put Nigeria at the pinnacle of global soccer, like Amokachi, Amunike, Okocha, Babangida and myself, do? walk on human beings’s heads?”

Oliseh warned that endured indiscipline and negative management could damage the group’s destiny: “If we don’t repair the subject and the administration, there gained’t be a exceptional Eagles left to aid.”

He additionally criticised the celebrations that observed Nigeria’s 0.33-region end, while the remarkable Eagles beat Egypt on consequences. “there has been a time the terrific Eagles shed tears at 2d region, because to us some thing but the trophy was once a failure; celebrating 1/3 area built a lifestyle of mediocrity,” he said.