Éric Chelle Addresses Osimhen–Lookman AFCON 2025 On-Field Incident During Nigeria’s Win Over Mozambique

Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle has spoken publicly about the on-field incident involving Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the Complexe Sportif de Fès.

The moment occurred in the 63rd minute of the match, with Nigeria already 3–0 ahead and Osimhen on a hat-trick. The Napoli striker was visibly frustrated after failing to receive passes from Lookman and Bruno Onyemaechi, leading to a brief verbal exchange between the players on the pitch.

Speaking to French outlet RMC Sport, Chelle admitted that emotions ran high but insisted the situation was never serious.

"On the pitch, there was a discussion with Lookman . Victor told him, 'We need to stop playing in front of goal.' Things got a little heated, a minor altercation, but that's part of locker room life. At the end of the match, he went home upset; he needed time to calm down. And once he did, he became the Victor we know again. There was never any question of him not playing against Algeria, never," Chelle explained to RMC Sport. “What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. I didn't even need to intervene. We went back to the hotel, they talked it over, and that was it.”