Does Victor Osimhen Have an Attitude Problem? A Pattern or Passion Misread?

Victor Osimhen is one of the most gifted strikers Nigeria has ever produced. His rise from the streets of Lagos to the summit of European football is a story of resilience, hunger, and relentless drive. Yet, alongside his goals and accolades, a recurring debate continues to follow him wherever he plays: Does Victor Osimhen have an attitude problem, or is his intensity simply misunderstood?

The question resurfaced yet again at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. Nigeria were cruising to a comfortable 4–0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16, with Osimhen scoring twice and playing a central role in the victory. Still, the talking point of the night had little to do with the scoreline. Midway through the second half, Osimhen erupted in frustration at Ademola Lookman after a promising attack broke down. He shouted at his teammate, brushed aside captain Wilfred Ndidi’s attempt to calm him, and moments later was substituted. At full-time, while the rest of the squad celebrated qualification, Osimhen walked straight down the tunnel. For many observers, this felt less like an isolated incident and more like a familiar pattern.

That sense of déjà vu has followed Osimhen for years, particularly at the club level. His time at Napoli, though wildly successful, was also turbulent. In 2023, the club’s official TikTok account posted a video mocking him for missing a penalty. Osimhen reacted by deleting Napoli-related content from his social media and reportedly considering legal action. While many fans supported him for standing up against what they saw as disrespect, others felt the reaction was excessive and publicly destabilising. Not long after, he clashed visibly with coach Rudi Garcia after being substituted in a Serie A match, arguing on the touchline and storming off in full view of cameras. Again, Napoli insisted all was well internally, but the images suggested unresolved tension.

Osimhen’s emotional reactions are not limited to matches alone. In June 2024, he took to Instagram Live in what became one of his most controversial off-field moments. Visibly angry and speaking without restraint, Osimhen denied reports that he had faked an injury to avoid playing for Nigeria in World Cup qualifiers. During the live session, he claimed he had been wrongly accused of lacking commitment and strongly suggested that the Super Eagles coach at the time, Finidi George, had questioned his integrity. He repeatedly insisted he was not “dumb” and would never turn his back on the national team. The livestream became so heated that a friend sitting beside him attempted to calm him down. The fallout was immediate, with former players and fans criticising Osimhen for airing internal matters publicly and calling for an apology, while others sympathised with a player clearly hurt by what he felt was a smear on his character.

Even in the Super Eagles setup, Osimhen’s frustration has surfaced on several occasions. There have been moments of visible anger at teammates for missed passes, animated gestures when chances fail to come, and blunt post-match comments about tactics and service. Yet, these moments often coexist with an undeniable commitment. Osimhen has played through pain, worn protective masks after serious facial injuries, rushed back from layoffs to represent Nigeria, and consistently delivered goals when the team needed them most.

This is what makes the Osimhen debate so complex. There is little evidence of indiscipline off the pitch, lack of professionalism in training, or disregard for the badge. What is evident, however, is an athlete with extreme emotional intensity, a deep intolerance for perceived inefficiency, and a tendency to react immediately and publicly when he feels wronged. In modern football, where leadership increasingly demands emotional intelligence as much as passion, that intensity can quickly be interpreted as an attitude problem.

So perhaps the question is not whether Victor Osimhen is difficult, arrogant, or disrespectful. Perhaps the real issue is whether he has fully learned how to channel his fire without letting it spill over. Passion builds legends, but unmanaged passion can also fracture teams. At 26, Osimhen is still in his prime, still learning, and still evolving, not just as a striker, but as a leader.

The story of Victor Osimhen is far from finished. Whether he becomes remembered purely as a ruthless goalscorer or as a complete leader may depend not on his feet, but on how he learns to master his emotions.

And that is the real debate.