A few days ago a former Nigeria international Mutiu Adepoju questioned the decision of head coach Eric Chelle to make Victor Osimhen the first vice captain of the senior national team of Nigeria.
Chelle made the decision before the start of the AFCON, where Nigeria finished third and Osimhen had an on the pitch fall out with his strike partner Ademola Lookman, during the course of the 4-0 win over Mozambique in the round of 16.
He verbally assaulted Lookman, stopped playing and asked to be subbed off. A move that triggered wide spread condemnation but not an apology from the Galatasaray forward although he did apologized to his teammates.
Adepoju picked that instance as part of why the 27 year old shouldn’t be among the captains of the team : “Leadership requires more than talent. A captain must possess playing quality, leadership ability, emotional control, and the capacity to represent and unite the team both on and off the pitch.
“Anyone who cannot tolerate others or control their behaviour cannot effectively lead”, he was quoted as saying as PM Parrot.
Backing the take from the Real Sociedad midfielder is a member of the team at the AFCON, who said after the incident Chelle knew his decision to hand the armband to Osimhen was done in error.
The coach snubbed the team’s practice of giving the armband to senior players in the team, but had to revert to them after Osimhen’s rift with Lookman and his subsequent refusal to apologize for his actions.
He said senior players of the team had to intervene to sort the issue with Lookman, leading to his apology before their official training session and it was agreed that he shouldn’t go public with it.
However he said there is no cordial relationship between the duo although it’s largely due to the reserved nature of Lookman.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
