Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has dismissed his altercation with teammate Victor Osimhen in Nigeria’s win over Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saying the incident is just about “football” and was nothing personal. 

“No, I have not seen him [Osimhen] yet. Nothing happened. It was just a discussion on the pitch. That is it,” the Atalanta man, who scored twice, as the Super Eagles crushed the Mambas 4-0, said after the match.

“It’s just football. It’s always football. He (Victor Osimhen) is my brother,” Lookman, winner of the African Player of the Year prize in 2024, told reporters in Fez.

The Galatasaray man and Lookman had exchanged words during the Round of 16 match on Monday.

The three-time African champions were already 3-0 up, but Osimhen was furious with Lookman for not passing the ball to him despite being in a better position to score.

“It is a team game,” Osimhen was heard saying while pointing to his Lookman who had given him an assist in the match.

Osimhen was later subsituted and stormed into the tunnel immediately after the final whistle, raising concerns over his relationship with other players.

The incident has continued to spark debate about his relationship with his teammates with many fans faulting the 27-year-old’s reaction in the Mozambique match.

Osimhen scored twice, Lookman got one just as Akor Adams as the Super Eagles feasted on the Mambas, recording the biggest win so far at the 2025 AFCON.

Lookman deservedly got the man of the match award, his second in the competition.

He is already leading the pack for the most goals and assists in the tournament. The winger has three goals and four assists in three matches so far.

Nigeria’s next clash at the 2025 AFCON will be against either Algeria or DR Congo. Both sides are meeting on Tuesday for a ticket to the quarter-finals.

The Super Eagles were runners up in the last AFCON, losing to hosts Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The team thrashed Mambas of Mozambique 4-0 in the second round of the competition on Monday.

Goals from Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adam sealed victory for Nigeria.

Nigeria finished top of Group C, winning all their games, while Mozambique squeezed into the knockout phase as one of the best third-placed teams.

Despite Nigeria’s apparent advantage, Alfons Amade, a defender for Mambas of Mozambique, warned that the magic of AFCON often produces surprises.

However, the shock was the mismatch in class and the ease with which Nigeria overran the Mambas.

Eric Chelle, the Eagles’ head coach, reverted to a familiar starting line-up after his heavy squad rotation for the first game.

The productive partnership of Victor Osimhen, Akor Adam and Ademola Lookman got another victim, and the result was devastating.

Osimhen had the ball in the net within the first two minutes but was ruled out for offside. Then Iwobi had his shot saved.

But a few minutes later, Lookman’s shot was beyond saving. Adam’s cutback found the Atalanta winger at the centre of the area, and the finish was efficient.

Five minutes later, the combination of the three Eagles attackers ripped through Mozambique’s defence again. Lookman crossed the ball into the area and aimed at Adam, but the striker missed it and, with an innocent deflection, redirected the ball into the path of Osimhen, who did the rest.

In the second half, Lookman then provided another goal for Osimhen and the striker tapped in from close range.

In between this period of glorious football, a nasty episode left a sour taste. Osimhen lost his head at Lookman for reasons yet to be identified. He required teammates’ help to calm the situation. Still boiling, the Galatasaray striker signalled to the bench to be subbed off and was obliged.

Away from that, Adam wrapped the emphatic victory up with a powerful shot for the fourth goal.

The Ghana Black Stars have been drawn against England, Croatia, and Panama in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup. 

The draws were held on Friday at the Kennedy Centre in Washington D.C., US.

The Black Stars were drawn in a difficult Group L with two European powerhouses, both of whom reached the quarter-finals of the previous World Cup in Qatar. Croatia finished third in the tournament and were the runners-up in 2018 in Russia.

Morocco will face Brazil, Scotland and Haiti in Group C, while Senegal are paired with France for the first time since their famous clash in the opening game of the 2002 World Cup.

South Africa will face Mexico, one of the co-hosts, in the first game of the competition, a re-enactment of the 2010 World Cup opener, which ended 1-1. South Korea and a winner of one of the six playoffs complete Group A.

The 2026 World Cup will be co-hosted by the US, Mexico and Canada from June 11 to July 19. The competition is the largest in World Cup history, with 48 teams participating for the first time.

FULL DRAW OF THE GROUPS 

Group A: Mexico, South Africa, Korea, Play-off D

Group B: Canada, Play-off A, Qatar, Switzerland

Group C: Brazil, Morocco, Haiti, Scotland

Group D: USA, Paraguay, Australia, Play-off C

Group E: Germany, Curacao, Ivory Coast, Ecuador

Group F: Netherlands, Japan, Play-off B, Tunisia

Group G: Belgium, Egypt, Iran, New Zealand

Group H: Spain, Cape Verde, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia

Group I: France, Senegal, Play-off 2, Norway

Group J: Argentina, Algeria, Austria, Jordan

Group K: Portugal, Play-off 1, Colombia, Uzbekistan

Group L: England, Croatia, Ghana, Panama