Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh made a bold statement about the AFCON 2025 campaign, faulting Victor Osimhen for Nigeria's failure to win gold, Soccernet.ng reports.
However, another of Nigeria's retired international players, Ifeanyi Udeze, has disagreed with Oliseh's train of thought, claiming he can't fault one man for the team's errors.
Oliseh faulted Osimhen's bust-up with Lookman for the decline in the threat carried by the Atalanta forward, as he didn't have a goal contribution after what happened in the round of sixteen clash against Mozambique.
“Let's look at the toxicity that might have caused us (Nigeria) the AFCON title,” Oliseh said on his YouTube channel.
“We are confusing talent with license. Victor Osimhen is world class but talent is not license to destroy team chemistry.
“Look at the evidence. Since that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, one of our brightest lights, Lookman became a shadow of himself and we lost the bite.
“When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit. You destroy the very confidence a team needs to survive a semifinal. Against a team as tactically sharp as Morocco, we needed our best players at a hundred percent.
“Statistically, Ademola Lookman was the most dangerous player in the tournament, until that public verbal abuse broke his focus. You can't expect a playmaker to perform a miracle on the pitch when he has been demoralised by his own teammate.
“The conflict did its damage. We didn't just lose a game, we lost the psychological edge needed to win.
“What is worse, and frankly, what is most dangerous for our football is the fan culture that now tolerates this,” the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder concluded.
Ifeanyi Udeze: Ex-Super Eagles star hits back at Oliseh over Osimhen comments
Speaking on Brila FM, the former West Bromwich Albion defender revealed that Oliseh could've delivered his speech better, even encouraging Victor Osimhen, rather than calling him out in front of the world.
“Osimhen is a younger player than Sunday Oliseh. Sunday should have used his channel to advise the Super Eagles striker regarding the discussion about him being the reason Nigeria didn't win the AFCON,” the 45-year-old said.
Ex-Nigerian International, Ifeanyi Udeze reacts to Sunday Oliseh saying Victor Osimhen’s outburst and altercation with his fellow teammates cost Nigeria the AFCON 2025 Cup 🇳🇬⚽️
Do you agree with his statement? Drop your thoughts 👇🔥#NoHoldsBarredwithIfeanyiUdeze #BrilaFM pic.twitter.com/cgFADfE96y
— Sports Radio Brila FM (@Brilafm889) January 23, 2026
“Remember, that outburst happened against Mozambique, and in the quarter final we played against Algeria.
“Ademola Lookman and Osimhen linked up well. The chemistry was there because, I think, after that game, they trashed whatever had happened between them and moved on.
“I don't think what happened between Osimhen and Lookman cost us the AFCON. I don't think so.
“Victor Osimhen is your younger brother. You can also use your channel to speak to him; he'll see it,” Ifeanyi Udeze concluded.
Osimhen, meanwhile, hasn't responded to any of the claims levelled at him. The Galatasaray striker is laser-focused on his side's Champions League game against Manchester City.
