Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has cautioned striker Victor Osimhen, stressing that no player is bigger than the national team, following the on-field clash between Osimhen and Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 4–0 victory over Mozambique at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking on his podcast, Mikel criticised Osimhen’s reaction during the incident, which saw the Napoli forward visibly berate Lookman for not passing the ball and later signal to the bench requesting to be substituted.
“The part where he stopped playing, running and making efforts; that part I don’t like,” Mikel said.
“The part where he stood up after the game and walked straight into the dressing room, I didn’t like.
“Football is always about the team. No individual is bigger than the national team, and Victor knows that.”
While addressing the incident, Mikel drew parallels with his own experience during Nigeria’s victorious 2013 AFCON campaign in South Africa, recalling a heated on-field argument with former winger Victor Moses.
According to Mikel, Moses—who was his roommate at the tournament—preferred to dribble and shoot rather than pass in certain situations, which led to a confrontation during a match.
“I went to him and said, ‘you have to pass the ball if somebody is more open, because we have to win here. It’s not about you,’” Mikel recalled.
“We had an argument on the pitch. After the game, we were angry with each other. We didn’t speak for hours, even the next morning.”
Mikel explained that despite the tension, both players later resolved their differences after realising that team success was more important than personal disagreements.
“Then we talked. There were much bigger things here, and we won. These things happen, but you have to deal with it,” he added.
Nigeria went on to win the 2013 AFCON, defeating Burkina Faso 1–0 in the final, with Sunday Mba scoring the winning goal.
Mikel’s comments have reignited debate among fans and analysts over discipline, leadership, and teamwork within the Super Eagles as the team continues its quest for AFCON glory in 2025.