Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has played down reports of a heated exchange between Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen during Nigeria’s AFCON campaign, describing the incident as a normal part of elite football and evidence of the duo’s competitive mentality.

Chelle praised both attackers for their relentless desire to score, explaining that their shared obsession with excellence was at the heart of the moment.

“In front of goal, those two guys are top level. Victor is a machine. If he doesn’t do his specific striker drills, if he doesn’t score in training, it drives him crazy. He wants to win everything. For him, it’s not a funfair,” Chelle said.

“Lookman is the same, but calmer. Frankly, I’ve seen strikers, but to strike the ball the way they do — right foot, left foot — that’s a very, very high level.”

Addressing the incident itself, Chelle revealed that the disagreement stemmed from a tactical exchange during the match, which briefly escalated but was quickly resolved without external intervention.

“On the pitch, there was a discussion with Lookman. Victor told him, ‘We need to stop playing in front of goal.’ Things got a little heated, a minor altercation, but that’s part of locker room life,” he explained.

“At the end of the match, he went home upset and needed time to calm down. Once he did, he became the Victor we know again.”

The Super Eagles coach also dismissed any suggestion that the incident affected team selection or harmony, insisting there was never doubt about Osimhen’s commitment or availability.

“There was never any question of him not playing against Algeria. What happens in the locker room stays in the locker room. I didn’t even need to intervene. We went back to the hotel, they talked it over, and that was it,” Chelle added in comments to RMC Sport.

Chelle’s remarks underline the strong competitive spirit within the Super Eagles squad, which he believes is a key driver of the team’s high standards and attacking quality.