Former Cameroon international and ex national team coach Rigobert Song has come under heavy criticism from Nigerians following comments he made on ESPN in which he stated that Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are not world class players. The remarks have generated intense debate across social media and sports circles with many Nigerians describing the statement as disrespectful dismissive and out of touch with current football realities.
During a question and answer session on ESPN Rigobert Song was asked directly whether Nigerian stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman should be considered world class players. Song responded with a simple no without providing detailed justification for his position. He went on to list players he considers world class including Bryan Mbeumo Achraf Hakimi Mohamed Salah Riyad Mahrez and Amad Diallo. The response immediately triggered strong reactions especially from Nigerian football fans who believe Osimhen in particular has long surpassed the threshold of world class recognition.
Victor Osimhen is widely regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in global football. His performances for Napoli including leading the club to its first Italian league title in over three decades and finishing as top scorer have earned him global accolades and recognition. Osimhen has also been nominated for and won several individual awards placing him among the elite players in world football. Ademola Lookman has equally built a strong reputation through consistent performances in European competitions and crucial contributions for the Nigerian national team.
Critics of Rigobert Song argue that his assessment ignores clear statistical achievements individual honors and the impact both players have had at club and international levels. Many questioned how players like Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo could be rated world class while Osimhen with superior achievements and recognition is dismissed. Others described the comments as biased and possibly influenced by long standing football rivalry between Nigeria and Cameroon.
Social media platforms were flooded with reactions from fans analysts and former players. Many Nigerians accused Song of attempting to undermine Nigerian footballers while elevating players from other countries without objective comparison. Some fans posted statistics highlighting Osimhens goal records awards and influence in top European leagues as evidence that the world already recognizes his status regardless of Songs opinion.
While some commentators defended Songs right to express a personal view they acknowledged that the tone and lack of explanation made the statement appear provocative. Football analysts noted that the term world class is subjective but generally defined by performance consistency impact at the highest level and recognition by peers and institutions all of which Osimhen and Lookman arguably possess.
The controversy has reignited broader discussions about African football and how African players are judged even by fellow Africans. Many Nigerians see the incident as part of a recurring pattern where African excellence is downplayed or selectively acknowledged. Despite the noise neither Osimhen nor Lookman has publicly responded and both continue to focus on their careers. For many fans the episode only reinforces the belief that true recognition is earned on the pitch and not determined by individual opinions.
