Former Nigeria captain Sunday Oliseh has said internal tension within the Super Eagles camp undermined the team’s chances of winning the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Nigeria finished the tournament with a third-place playoff victory over Egypt, but Oliseh believes the squad fell short of its potential after a breakdown in harmony at a crucial stage of the competition.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh argued that the warning signs appeared during Nigeria’s last-16 win over Mozambique, when Victor Osimhen was seen confronting teammate Ademola Lookman on the pitch.
According to Oliseh, moments like that go beyond passion. “We are confusing talent with licence,” he said, insisting that while Osimhen remains “world class”, no individual has the right to damage team unity.
Osimhen and Lookman. Photo Credit: Imago
He warned that when such issues are left unchecked, “you destroy the very chemistry a team needs to win tournaments”.
Oliseh believes the impact became evident as the competition progressed. He said Lookman, who had been one of Nigeria’s most influential players early on, appeared to lose confidence in the latter rounds.
“When you publicly diminish a teammate, you break their spirit,” Oliseh explained, adding that the Super Eagles “lost the psychological edge” required in the semi-final against hosts Morocco.
Osimhen. Photo Credit: Imago
Nigeria were held scoreless over 120 minutes before losing on penalties, and Oliseh argued that the mental strain inside the squad showed at the decisive moment.
“Against a tactically sharp side like Morocco, we needed our best players at a hundred percent,” he said, suggesting that unresolved tension made that impossible.
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Although head coach Eric Chelle and several players played down the incident at the time, Oliseh maintained that the damage had already been done. He said conflicts do not always explode publicly but can quietly affect trust and confidence within a group.
Osimhen celebrating his first goal for Nigeria against Algeria. Photo Credit: AFP
The former captain also issued a broader warning about standards in the national team, stressing that performance alone cannot excuse behaviour.
“Scoring goals for Nigeria doesn’t give you a licence to disrespect teammates or coaches,” Oliseh said, adding that failure to address discipline could have long-term consequences for the Super Eagles.
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Nigeria eventually claimed bronze, but Oliseh concluded that the campaign would be remembered as a missed opportunity. “We didn’t just lose a match, we lost the mental balance needed to win the title.”
