Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen has publicly criticized head coach Finidi George, stating he has lost respect for the coach following comments about his unavailability for the recent international break.

Osimhen missed the Super Eagles' 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin due to an ankle injury, with Nigeria drawing one match and losing the other.

Despite Osimhen's injury, Finidi George suggested that the striker could have been fit to play.

Osimhen, sidelined for four weeks after twisting his ankle, took to Instagram to address these allegations, expressing his disappointment with the coach's comments.

“I asked Finidi George to allow me to stay with the players in the camp, but he asked me not to bother and to stay with my family,” Osimhen wrote on Instagram.

“I called my teammates before the match to encourage them, but after two bad games, everyone is blaming me even though I wasn’t part of the team."

He added, “I got injured in the last minute of our last match. I had an ankle injury that was confirmed on an MRI scan.

I won’t allow disrespect from anybody. I won’t allow that stain from anyone. I always play my heart out for Nigeria. I know how many injuries I’ve played with for Nigeria, but after two bad games, everybody is attacking me. I have lost every respect I have for him.”

Nigeria is currently fifth in their qualifying group, with only three points from their opening four games.