A video circulating on social media falsely claims to show Victor Osimhen apologising to Nigerians and his teammates following the recent on field alteration with Lookman.
The short clip shows Osimhen speaking during an interview with Sulaiman Adebayo also known as Pooja, where he apologised to Nigerians, acknowledged the high expectations from fans worldwide, and stressed that there was no pressure within the team because they trusted their quality and see AFCON as an opportunity to right past wrongs.
A verified X user @Gen_Buhar posted the video with the caption:
“Victor Osimhen apologise to team mates and Nigerians, let’s move on. He is just a winning player with too much expectations from his team mates.”
As of January 9, 2026, the video had garnered over 7,000 likes, 900 reposts and more than 420,000 views.
CLAIM
Video shows Osimhen apologising after the clash with Lookman on the pitch.
THE FINDINGS
Findings by The FactCheckHub show that the claim is MISLEADING.
The video is circulating following an on-field altercation between 2023 African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen and his successor, Ademola Lookman, during Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Mozambique on Monday.
The ICIR reported that Nigeria annihilated the history-chasing Mambas at the Fez Stadium, with Osimhen scoring twice and Lookman and Akor Adams adding one goal each.
However, the emphatic victory was overshadowed by a confrontation between the two former African Players of the Year shortly after the hour mark, which later saw Osimhen request to be substituted.
In a viral video that emerged after the match, Osimhen appeared to confront Lookman over what was believed to be the latter’s failure to pass the ball in a clear scoring position.
The Galatasaray of Turkey striker’s action surprised even the Mozambican players, who tried to restrain him from continuing his outbursts against Lookman. Osimhen subsequently called for a substitution and left the dressing room.
However, the video in circulation did not show Osimhen apologising to Nigerians and the fans at large over the altercation. A reverse image search conducted by The FactCheckHub revealed that the video was posted online days before the incident. It was originally shared by POOJAMEDIA on December 21, 2025.
The video captures Osimhen apologising to Nigerians and fans worldwide after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In the interview, he emphasised the team’s belief in their quality and described the upcoming AFCON as an opportunity to make amends.
“We have to use this opportunity to say we’re sorry for not getting the World Cup ticket.”
“We know the disappointment on the faces of many Nigerian fans. Life has happened, so we have to keep it moving. This AFCON is an opportunity for us to do well and try to make sure that we win the tournament.”
The video has no connection with the recent altercation between Osimhen and his fellow teammate.
VERDICT
The claim that the video shows Victor Osimhen apologising to Nigerians after an altercation with Ademola Lookman is MISLEADING. The video predates the incident and was recorded after Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Seasoned writer and literary curator, Zainab Abdulrasaq is a factchecker for The FactCheckHub in an effort to combat information disorder. She can be reached on IG @blackbookishgirl or zabdulrasaq@icirnigeria.org
