Victor Osimhen’s attack on Victor Ikpeba was unprovoked and disrespectful

The Napoli striker's outburst in response to honest, well-meaning criticism from the former African Footballer of the Year was ugly and betrays a mentality inimical to growth and introspection

Remarkable as it reads, Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen arguably makes as many headlines for his social media activity as he does for his on-field exploits.

His Twitter feed is a veritable trove of memes, banter and piss-taking; a defiant stand taken against the buttoned-up, overly professional image that most footballers strive for. In his mind, the medium exists for him to say whatever bubbles to the top of his mind at any given point. If that means sniping back at trolls with insults and cussing, so be it.

His latest outburst, however, may well have gone too far.

In his crosshairs this time is former Nigeria international Victor Ikpeba, who is taking quite a bit of flak for having the audacity to comment on his namesake’s decision-making during the Super Eagles 1-1 draw against Ghana in Abuja.

Speaking on SuperSport, the former Monaco striker faulted Osimhen's two bicycle kick attempts in the second half, the implication being that the Napoli forward had a little more time and could have selected a different execution. “He needs to understand when to play the ball and when to play bicycle kicks,” Ikpeba said.

Now, it’s important to state that, relative to the level of performance of the rest of the team on the day, Osimhen was one of the better players against the Black Stars. His intensity and desire had the Ghana defence in difficulty at various points, but most especially in the first half when his eagerness bordered on vendetta.

Every Ghanaian player was scared of Victor Osimhen – Troost-Ekong Pulse Ghana
The decision of Ghana coach Otto Addo to go to a back five at the start of the second half reduced the space the 23-year-old had to work with, but he still looked the Super Eagles’ likeliest route to a second, tie-winning goal right up until the very end.

With that in mind, it is worth asking what more he could have done, and it does seem a little unfair that Ikpeba singled him out for criticism.

However, to look at it that way – as Osimhen appears to have done – would be to miss the fuller picture, and to react in the manner that the forward has is not only deeply disrespectful, but calls into question his good judgment.

First of all, and not that this should need to be said, Osimhen could do a lot worse than listen to Ikpeba as far as finishing goes. We are talking about a former African Footballer of the Year winner and Olympic gold medallist after all, one whose goals propelled Monaco to Champions League and UEFA Cup semi-finals. Even with the wind of an African-record transfer fee in his sail, his younger counterpart would do well to so much as emulate that; this is clearly not some random person ranting at a news stand.

However, even if Ikpeba had been John Q. Public, he would still deserve respect and a fair consideration of the content of his opinion. For Osimhen to brand him ‘agbaya’ (a pejorative term for an elderly person lacking the dignity befitting his age) and ‘isonu’ (loosely translating to worthless) was just way out of line, and should not be applauded by any means.

Quite why or how Nigerian footballers as a corpus has such thin skin deserves a different article in itself, but legitimate, fair criticism is a backbone of punditry, and ex-footballers have as much a right as anyone else to air their views without being subjected to ridicule on that basis. If their opinion is presented free of invective and ill-feeling (and Ikpeba went on to praise Osimhen in the same interview), it should be, at the very least, taken in good faith.

As stated earlier, Osimhen has previous when it comes to making unguarded comments on social media, and as to whether he needs to curb that, the jury remains out. You can just about see both sides of the argument: a more human aspect to the feeds of top athletes is desirable, but at the same time understanding the responsibility that comes with owning large platforms is imperative. There is not a thin line between authenticity and uncouthness—there is a chasm.

Whatever side one comes down on, the phenomenon whereby a little success renders one superior to any form of honest appraisal or censure is the enemy of growth, and is all too common within Nigerian football. It needs to die, and that right quick.

https://www.pulse.ng/sports/football/super-eagles/victor-osimhens-attack-on-former-super-eagles-striker-victor-ikpeba-was-unprovoked

Victor Ikpeba should've respected his age and himself.

The way and Manner he talks was as if Victor Osimhen deliberately took that bicycle kick. To me , there's no way Osimhen could have kick the ball more than that, the situation at that moment demanded that style.

Wisdom demands you don't respond to all criticism

Some are actually constructive



By the way, it even important when its coming from a legend who has achieved what you are dreaming of

this super eagles lack discipline and respect.... oshimen can't even lace ikpeba's boot during his time...ikpeba was a bicycle kick expert so he has a right to criticize oshimen... I think ikpeba should be more of a mentor to oshimen... oshimen is mannerless,whether in football ability, football achievement and age...HE NO REACH IKPEBA

Sometimes it's best to ignore a verbal attack and try to pick the sense from the attack(if it has any)...

Not every criticism requires a response...

True! We lost the matches in both legs because our coach picked Osimhen as his pointman, instead of Iheanacho, and Osimhen could not score goals. He was just busy displaying and doing fruitless gra gra. Ghana defenders successfully punctured his threats. After Eguavoen, na Osimhen get the closest biggest blame.

That's true, he's not yet a matured player.

Na family matter. Both are Edo sons.

Make una leave them.

Blaming an individual for a team lose is not it

Both of them bears the name Victor,

So it's Victor vs Victor attacking each other.

My name is Ignis, so I will keep minding my business. What did I know, my name is not Victor.

Damnnn niggarrrr

Yes I concur

Very disrespectful

Forget the fact that Osimhen is from my state...infact the two of them are from my state

Football analyst, pundits and expert can criticize a player during live interview

But it doesn't mean the player should insult the pundits
Football analyst pointing out the fault and critizing a player is Normal...it happens everywhere including epl, laliga, seria a, Bundesliga....everywhere

Don't be scared to let people know your mind.
Never chicken out...
No guts no glory.

Give me advice,but you over criticize.... Then I will take u to the cleaners....

Up Osimhen!!

It's easy to sit and criticize, very very easy.

Pikin wey talk say if he old he go chop pigeon head,pigeon no go make am old

Pride goes before a fall ,but victor ikpeba was right, when u are in a crucial match like that ,you must utilise your chances of scoring goals ,we didn't need beautiful display of skills ,we needed a simple goal to qualify but he was too immature to see the point..now he is back in his club and will watch the world Cup like the rest of us ,he tried sha but that his useless bicycle kick was not appropriate at that material moments

Why ikpeba no keep quite

Damnnnnn

When you criticize a younger one in public, you should be ready to get your own back. It's just simple logic.

And it's not as if Victor Ikpeba himself didn't make so many errors during his playing days. The fact that he's retired now doesn't make him a faultless legend.

MadamVanessa:



Victor Ikpeba should've respected his age and himself.

The way and Manner he talks was as if Victor Osimhen deliberately took that bicycle kick.

Will you ever have sense? So adult can't give out advice again?

Hmm

rickpat:
this super eagles lack discipline and respect.... oshimen can't even lace ikpeba's boot during his time...ikpeba was a bicycle kick expert so he has a right to criticize oshimen... I think ikpeba should be more of a mentor to oshimen... oshimen is mannerless,whether in football ability, football achievement and age...HE NO REACH IKPEBA

Most people do not know why Ikpeba was called the Prince of Monaco. He was simply world-class. A 1997 African Player of the Year. Osimhen cannot lace Ikpeba's shoe laces on any level.

MadamVanessa:



Victor Ikpeba should've respected his age and himself.

The way and Manner he talks was as if Victor Osimhen deliberately took that bicycle kick.

Common sense is not really Common after all
Talkative....

Ikpeba was an accomplished footballer in his time. Osinmen is just a a disrespectful idiot. Him think say to win Africa best player na moi moi.

Let him win first and he can talk. Idiot

Nigerians love Ikpeba for his contribution to the National team and the Olympic Team

Love cannot be bought
In the Olympic Semi final in 1996
We played against Brazil.
Before that Brazil had already beaten us 1-0 at the Group stage
Thanks to a goal from Ronaldo de Lima

In the Semi final game we were 3-1 down at 77 mins and many had given up hope
Brazil believed they had won as did many Nigerians. Some people abandoned the game and woke up the next day to discover Nigeria equalized and won the game by a golden goal
First Ikpeba scored at 78 minutes to make it 3-2 and Kanu equalized in the 90th minute. and scored the golden goal

Kanu was the star of the game but Ikpeba's 78 minute goal made a difference and gave hope.

For those not old enough to remember go and look for that game on You Tube

Look at Ikpeba's goal against Brazil
This was a Brazil team with Ronaldo, Bebeto, Rivaldo, Dida, Ze Maria, Ze Elias and Conceciao.

That is what a Nigerian team should look like they played with confidence and were dominant

Of course Kanu's Golden goal was just out of this world. One of my sweetest football moments ever


When this generation actually achieve something then they will earn the right to talk

Make them sell this country make everybody rest

I do agree that he is disrespectful

na mumu dey worry osimhein

Battle of the Victors. Let’s see who becomes the authentic Victor.

It easy to sit and criticize

Where is the disrespect. Leave my boy alone