Victor Osimhen is Nigeria's talisman at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, but a recent spout with teammate Ademola Lookman has drawn more attention than his impressive performances. The 27-year-old striker scored twice to underline his world-class finishing, yet his volatile temperament remains a concern for the Super Eagles' coach Éric Chelle.
Osimhen's explosive behavior, highlighted by a public remonstration with Lookman during Nigeria's 4-0 win against Mozambique, has sparked debate about his ability to handle pressure and perform under stress. The Galatasaray striker's lack of self-control is evident in social media posts from the past four years, where he uses the term "coconut head" – a Nigerian expression that describes someone who speaks their mind without regard for consequences.
Osimhen's behavior has not gone unnoticed; his first major public spat was with former Nigeria and Monaco striker Victor Ikpeba. In 2022, Osimhen referred to Ikpeba on Instagram as "Pundit Isonu" (meaning useless) after the pundit criticized Osimhen's performance in a World Cup playoff against Ghana.
More recently, Osimhen clashed with former Ajax and Real Betis winger Finidi George, who was briefly Nigeria's head coach. The argument was so intense that Osimhen stormed off live on Instagram, prompting Odion Ighalo to intervene.
As Nigeria prepares for the quarter-final in Marrakech, fans are hoping their star player can put his behavior behind him and focus on winning the tournament. Osimhen has repeatedly stated his ambition to lift Africa's most prestigious trophy and give Nigerians something to remember. Having overcome generational poverty to become a professional footballer, he is determined to use his platform for good.
However, for Nigeria to succeed, they need more than just Osimhen's prowess on the pitch; they require exemplary behavior from their players. Coach Chelle's approach of handling internal matters is sensible, while Emmanuel Amuneke believes that understanding Osimhen's character can help resolve issues. With his talent and determination, Osimhen has already won many hearts – now it remains to be seen if he can put aside his volatile temperament and lead Nigeria to Afcon glory.
Osimhen's explosive behavior, highlighted by a public remonstration with Lookman during Nigeria's 4-0 win against Mozambique, has sparked debate about his ability to handle pressure and perform under stress. The Galatasaray striker's lack of self-control is evident in social media posts from the past four years, where he uses the term "coconut head" – a Nigerian expression that describes someone who speaks their mind without regard for consequences.
Osimhen's behavior has not gone unnoticed; his first major public spat was with former Nigeria and Monaco striker Victor Ikpeba. In 2022, Osimhen referred to Ikpeba on Instagram as "Pundit Isonu" (meaning useless) after the pundit criticized Osimhen's performance in a World Cup playoff against Ghana.
More recently, Osimhen clashed with former Ajax and Real Betis winger Finidi George, who was briefly Nigeria's head coach. The argument was so intense that Osimhen stormed off live on Instagram, prompting Odion Ighalo to intervene.
As Nigeria prepares for the quarter-final in Marrakech, fans are hoping their star player can put his behavior behind him and focus on winning the tournament. Osimhen has repeatedly stated his ambition to lift Africa's most prestigious trophy and give Nigerians something to remember. Having overcome generational poverty to become a professional footballer, he is determined to use his platform for good.
However, for Nigeria to succeed, they need more than just Osimhen's prowess on the pitch; they require exemplary behavior from their players. Coach Chelle's approach of handling internal matters is sensible, while Emmanuel Amuneke believes that understanding Osimhen's character can help resolve issues. With his talent and determination, Osimhen has already won many hearts – now it remains to be seen if he can put aside his volatile temperament and lead Nigeria to Afcon glory.
i mean twice scoring goals is impressive but come on calming down would not hurt lol coach chelle should give him some time tho he hasnt won anything yet 
but naija needs him to perform under pressure or theyll be out of afcon for sure 
, this whole situation with Osimhen is like a double-edged sword 
! On one hand, the guy's skills on the pitch are insane 
, but on the other hand, his temper issues are super concerning 
. I mean, who needs all that drama in a tournament, right? 
The Galatasaray striker has got talent for days, but can he control himself under pressure? That's what matters 
. Coach Chelle's approach is spot on, and I'm rooting for Osimhen to put his behavior behind him and shine in Marrakech 
#TeamOsimhen #AfricanChampion #FIFA2025 
, Victor Osimhen is literally the most interesting player in the Africa Cup of Nations rn! 
. How can u be so passionate about football & then lash out at ur teammate? 
, he's been roasted online already! 
, but he needs 2 work on his impulsivity 
. Coach Chelle's approach is sensible, & I think understanding Osimhen's character will help resolve issues 
.
. But wut if he can put it all 2gthr? He'd b a hero! 
and is literally leading the Super Eagles to Africa Cup of Nations glory 
️. I think it's great that Osimhen is unapologetically himself, but at the same time, being a role model for young Nigerians (especially those from underprivileged backgrounds) means he's got to keep his cool under pressure 
He's got this crazy talent and energy on the pitch that's hard to ignore 
it's a bit much, if you ask me. 
Still, Osimhen's got this drive and ambition to win Afcon – I've got faith in him! 
but then again, who wants to watch someone storm off live on instagram during an argument? 
like, dude needs to chill 
. but at the same time, i feel for him 'cause he's come so far from poverty and now he's a role model for many nigerians... it's gotta be hard to deal with that kinda pressure 
I mean, come on guys! Victor Osimhen is an amazing player, no doubt about that 
. But we need to talk about this temper of his 
and drawing more attention away from what matters - the game! 
That's just immature and unprofessional. We get it, he's passionate, but can't he just keep his cool like most of us do in everyday life? 
. Can we focus on his actual skills and how he can help Nigeria win Afcon? 
. But let's also work on getting our team to have some class off the pitch 
.
.
. Let's see how he handles the pressure in Marrakech... 
️. It's not going to be easy, though - the pressure's on from all sides, and it's gonna take some serious self-control to stay focused 
it's all about accountability, right? but at the same time, can we really blame him for wanting to speak his mind and not be held back by some outdated notion of "team player"? 
. It's like, you're on fire on the pitch, scoring goals left and right 
. And to make matters worse, he's been doing this stuff for years 
It's not all about Osimhen, though - the team needs to come together and show some maturity on and off the pitch 
. Fingers crossed he can keep it together and lead Nigeria to Afcon glory! 
and yeah coach chelle needs to address this ASAP because if osimhen can't put it together mentally, it's gonna be tough for the team. and let's not forget, he's not just playing for himself, he's got a whole country counting on him 
...he's got the skills but his temper is gonna be his downfall if he doesn't get his cool back on 
! I mean I get it, being under pressure can get to anyone but sometimes he just goes too far 
!