AFCON 2025: Osimhen-Lookman heated exchange and the history as Nigeria beat Mozambique

Nigeria made AFCON history by winning their fourth consecutive match in a 4-0 rout of Mozambique, though the victory was punctuated by a heated on-field exchange between star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

Nigeria secured their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a dominant 4-0 victory over Mozambique in Fes.

The win marks a historic milestone for the Super Eagles, who became the first Nigerian side to win their opening four matches at an AFCON tournament.

Goals from Ademola Lookman, Akor Adams, and a brace from Victor Osimhen ensured Eric Chelle’s side maintained their perfect record in Morocco while overwhelming their opponents with superior speed and precision.

Ademola Lookman delivered a masterful performance, opening the scoring in the 20th minute before turning provider for his teammates.

Alex Iwobi orchestrated the midfield, setting the tempo for a ruthless Nigerian attack that saw all three starting forwards find the net.

The Super Eagles went into the halftime break with a two-goal cushion after Osimhen bundled home a deflected Lookman cross, further extending Nigeria’s run of scoring in 11 consecutive AFCON matches.

The second half saw Osimhen double his tally with a powerful strike, bringing him to 34 international goals—just three shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time record.

However, the night was partially marred by internal friction when Osimhen “firmly berated Lookman” for a missed pass.

Head coach Eric Chelle made the bold decision to substitute the star striker shortly after the hour mark, despite Osimhen clearly desiring to chase a hat-trick and the national scoring record.

Akor Adams rounded off the historic night in the 76th minute, powering home a cross to become the third member of the trident to score.

Nigeria now waits to face either Algeria or DR Congo in the last eight, joining a heavyweight quarter-final lineup that includes Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt.

The Super Eagles enter the next round as the first team in the 2025 edition to score four goals in a single match.