What did Eric Chelle say about the Lookman and Osimhen AFCON 2025 saga?

Head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Eric Chelle, has reacted to the Lookman and Osimhen saga after the AFCON 2025 round of 16 fixture.

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has downplayed reports of a clash between Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman following Nigeria’s commanding 4-0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16 at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The episode, which occurred midway through the second half, drew significant attention after cameras captured a tense exchange between the two players, even as Nigeria was well on their way to a comfortable victory. Osimhen appeared frustrated when Lookman did not pass the ball to him while he was in an advantageous position, reacting sharply on the field.

Footage showed the Galatasaray striker pulling away from captain Wilfred Ndidi before pointing and shouting at Lookman. Speaking after the match, Chelle addressed the situation carefully, emphasising that he would not discuss team matters in public. “What happened on the pitch will stay in the group. I don’t need to tell you what will happen, I keep that to me,” he told SABC Sport.

Although he declined to comment further, Chelle seemed to suggest that any tension between the players had eased. On Instagram, he shared a photo of Osimhen and Lookman celebrating together after the game, captioning it simply: “Felicitations.”

Read the Latest AFCON 2025 News Today and Get Fresh updates as they drop via X and Facebook