Nigeria’s Super Eagles have firmly played down reports of unrest within the camp following Monday night’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Mozambique, a result that sealed the three-time champions place in the quarter-finals of the 35th Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
Speculation of a fallout emerged after striker Victor Osimhen was spotted gesturing towards fellow forward Ademola Lookman shortly before a corner kick during the Round of 16 clash. The incident quickly fuelled conjecture across traditional and digital media platforms.
However, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor dismissed the claims, insisting there is no crisis in the squad.
There is no problem whatsoever in our camp. Whatever people saw as a crisis between two brothers was easily resolved a couple of hours later. All is good and we are presently at training, Achor said on Tuesday evening.
Achor also refuted rumours that Jerome Akor Adams, who scored his maiden AFCON goal in the match, had deserted the team. He explained that the striker had briefly left camp with permission to visit his mother, who was hospitalised in Fès, and returned within an hour.
On the pitch, deputy captain Osimhen stole the spotlight with a brace, taking his international tally to 34 goals in 50 appearances, just three shy of the all-time Super Eagles record of 37 goals held by the late Rashidi Yekini.
Ademola Lookman also delivered a standout performance, adding a goal and three assists to his tournament tally. The Atalanta forward had already recorded two goals and two assists in earlier group games against Tanzania and Tunisia, having sat out the match against Uganda.
Training resumed on Tuesday evening at the Sardienne Complex, with all 26 available players taking part. Young defender Ryan Alebiosu remains on a recovery programme.
The Super Eagles will move to Marrakech on Thursday ahead of their quarter-final showdown on Saturday, where they will face the winner of the clash between Algeria’s Fennecs and DR Congo’s Leopards. The match is scheduled to kick off at 5pm.
