Africa Cup of Nations winner, Brown Ideye, has criticized Victor Osimhen for his disparaging remarks about coach Finidi George on social media, noting that the Super Eagles striker must apologize to erstwhile coach.
Last week, Napoli striker Osimhen expressed his anger towards Finidi on social media over a comment the coach allegedly made.
Reports indicated that Finidi stated he would not beg any player to represent the Super Eagles after Osimhen missed the World Cup qualifiers due to injury.
Ideye has now weighed in on the situation, condemning Osimhen’s actions.
Ideye strongly criticized Osimhen, asserting that the African Footballer of the Year had no right to publicly insult a Super Eagles icon.
He lamented that current Super Eagles players lack a strong sense of nationalism and enthusiasm for representing Nigeria.
In an X space, Ideye shared his perspective, “Regarding what happened between coach Finidi and Victor, many people asked me the best course of action when a coach calls you out. I said I’ll get my lawyer, we’ll draft a statement for all my social media platforms, post it, and then I’ll contact the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, speak to him, and call the coach.
“What Victor did is wrong. People might say he had to defend himself. What are you defending, and who are you explaining to that you have an injury? You don’t need to explain to people that you have an injury and that’s why you’re not in camp. Call the coach to verify if he really said what was alleged before going on your social media platforms.”
Ideye also disclosed that he reached out to Osimhen, advising him to apologize to Finidi following his Instagram Live outburst.
He shared, “I told him I’m disappointed in you, but what you need to do is go back to social media and apologize to Nigerians and Finidi because, no matter what, he’s a legend.
“He paved the way for you, as we say in Nigeria, so you don’t disrespect people like that. I don’t care who you are, how many awards you have won, or what you’ve achieved at your club. It doesn’t work that way. I’m waiting for Victor to apologize. He has to apologize; he just has to do it.”
Ideye emphasized that Africa’s best player shouldn’t behave in such a manner, adding, “I spoke to him, telling him you don’t behave like that. You have 2.7 million people watching you on your Instagram Live, and you’re ranting, talking down on a legend. It doesn’t work that way. I’m waiting for Victor to apologize. He has to apologize; he just has to do it.”
Ideye concluded by pointing out that the lack of a true leader in the Super Eagles team has resulted in unacceptable behavior from some players.
