Tacha backs Osimhen after AFCON touchline dispute

Tacha defends Osimhen after his heated AFCON clash with Lookman, saying Nigerians are unfairly targeting the Super Eagles striker

Media personality Anita Natacha Akide, popularly known as Tacha, has defended Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen following his on-pitch confrontation with teammate Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 4–0 victory over Mozambique at the Africa Cup of Nations on Monday.

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The incident unfolded in the second half of the round-of-16 match, despite Ademola Lookman having earlier provided an assist for one of Victor Osimhen’s goals.

Television footage showed Osimhen running towards Lookman in apparent frustration, while Lookman remained calm and did not respond physically to the exchange.

The moment quickly triggered debate on Nigerian social media, with some fans criticising Osimhen’s conduct as unnecessary and divisive, even as Nigeria comfortably secured qualification for the quarter-finals.

Reacting on the X platform, Tacha said public anger towards Osimhen reflected a pattern of unfair scrutiny rather than genuine concern over sportsmanship.

“Nigerians are targeting Osimhen because they have seen Osimhen finish,” she wrote, using the colloquial phrase to suggest familiarity had bred disrespect.

She compared the Napoli forward to Cristiano Ronaldo and questioned whether similar behaviour from a global football icon would attract the same level of criticism from Nigerian fans.

Tacha argued that Osimhen’s intensity is part of what makes him a world-class striker and said the forward was chasing a hat-trick at the time of the confrontation.

“That same passion is the reason he is one of the best attackers in the world,” she said, urging supporters to “calm down” and focus on the team’s performance rather than internal disagreements.

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Super Eagles’ technical crew have not commented publicly on the exchange, and neither Victor Osimhen nor Ademola Lookman has issued a statement.

Also read: Victor Osimhen returns as Galatasaray held by Fenerbahce

Nigeria will face its quarter-final opponent later this week as the team continues its campaign for a fourth AFCON title.

Peculiar Adirika