Super Eagles Dismiss Rift Claims After 4–0 AFCON Win Over Mozambique
By Enemona Samuel Endurance | The Bureau News
Nigeria News Today: The Super Eagles camp has firmly dismissed rumours of internal discord following Monday night’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Mozambique’s Mambas, a result that sealed Nigeria’s place in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 35th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.
Speculation had emerged on social and traditional media after striker Victor Osimhen was seen gesturing towards teammate Ademola Lookman before a corner kick during the match, sparking conjecture of a possible disagreement between the two forwards.
Reacting to the reports, Team Administrator Dayo Enebi Achor on Tuesday evening described the claims as unfounded and misleading.
“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.
He also debunked reports suggesting that striker Jerome Akor Adams, who scored his first-ever AFCON goal against Mozambique, had abandoned the team’s camp.
“He took permission to go and see his mother who was hospitalised here in Fès and returned in less than an hour,” Achor clarified.
On the pitch, the Super Eagles delivered a dominant performance, with deputy captain Victor Osimhen scoring twice to take his international tally to 34 goals in 50 appearances for Nigeria. The Napoli forward is now just three goals short of the country’s all-time senior national team record of 37 goals held by the late Rashidi Yekini.
Ademola Lookman also shone brightly, adding a goal and providing three assists on the night. The Atalanta winger had already recorded two goals and two assists earlier in the tournament, having featured in matches against Tanzania and Tunisia, while missing the encounter with Uganda.
Training activities 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 three-time African champions are scheduled to move to Marrakech on Thursday ahead of their quarter-final clash on Saturday.
Nigeria will face the winner of the last-16 encounter between Algeria’s Fennecs and DR Congo’s Leopards, with kick-off slated for 5:00 p.m.
