Recently, Nigerian football fans and supporters of the Super Eagles witnessed a significant feud between Victor Osimhen and Finidi George. The conflict caused a considerable stir within the Nigerian football industry, with both men engaging in a heated exchange on social media.
The controversy began earlier this month following reports that Finidi, the former Super Eagles coach, had allegedly questioned Osimhen’s commitment to the national team. This came after Nigeria’s disappointing performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.
However, subsequent reports indicated that Finidi had never mentioned Osimhen by name when discussing player commitment. Nigeria had drawn 1-1 with South Africa in Uyo and lost 2-1 to Benin Republic in Ivory Coast. Osimhen, who missed both matches due to injury, retaliated against Finidi’s comments regarding his commitment to the Super Eagles.
Finidi believed the Napoli striker could have managed to play in the matches despite his injury. In response, Osimhen took to Instagram Live, expressing his frustration with Finidi. He stated, “I asked Finidi George to allow me to stay with the players in the camp, but Finidi asked me not to bother and stay with my family. Now after two bad games, everybody is blaming me. I have played with injuries for Nigeria and gave my all, but after two bad games, I’m being attacked.”
Osimhen also declared that he had lost respect for Finidi, who himself is a former Nigeria national team player. He lashed out at fans, asserting his maturity and fearlessness.
Following Osimhen’s outburst, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Peterside Idah urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to compel Osimhen to apologize to Finidi. In a video on X, Peterside emphasized that Osimhen’s comments were disrespectful and that he should resolve his issues with Finidi privately.
Similarly, former international Victor Anichebe criticized Osimhen for his public criticism of Finidi, suggesting that such matters should be handled privately. Anichebe also criticized the NFF, calling for a complete overhaul of the federation due to its perceived inefficiency and lack of leadership.
Odion Ighalo, another Nigeria international, advised Osimhen to remain calm, commenting on Instagram, “Boy calm down and end the live.” Some fans also urged Osimhen to apologize to Finidi, but he has yet to do so.
A few days after the incident, Finidi resigned as head coach of the Super Eagles. Subsequently, rumors circulated that the NFF had banned Osimhen from the national team, which the NFF denied. In a statement, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi urged the media to help resolve issues constructively rather than escalate them.
The NFF is focused on resolving the situation and preparing for upcoming AFCON qualifiers and World Cup qualification matches. Femi Fabunmi, a respected journalist, advised the NFF to forgive Osimhen regardless of an apology to avoid further distractions and concentrate on qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Fabunmi condemned Osimhen’s outburst but acknowledged the striker’s contributions to the national team. He urged the NFF to temper justice with mercy and for Osimhen to learn from the incident, emphasizing the importance of unity and focus on the goal of World Cup qualification.
