Ademola Lookman… The Nimble Super the Eagles Poster Boy

Ademola Lookman was not part of the Nigerian Super Eagles team that bowed out of the AFCON in the last 16 in Cameroon in 2022, but that was the year big changes happened in Lookman’s national team career.

The Nigeria Football Federation had already been trying for some time to get London-born Lookman to change allegiance despite having represented England as a youth, just like Alex Iwobi and Victor Moses had done previously.

Fast forward to World Cup qualifying play-off against Ghana in March 2022, the 5-foot 11 nimble winger eventually made his debut in a decisive game for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and from that moment he has not looked back.

Mola, as he is popularly known has emerged as a pivotal figure in the Super Eagles’ quest for football glory lately, showcasing an array of skills that have not only dazzled spectators but have also significantly impacted Nigeria’s performance during play.

Two years back, Leicester City showed him the door post his loan spell, but he found solace back at RB Leipzig, only to make a game-changing move to Atalanta, which has since been his stage to shine.

Last season, Lookman dazzled fans and critics alike, netting 13 goals and setting up eight in 31 Serie A outings. The current campaign sees him continuing his rich vein of form, contributing significantly with 14 so far goals and 5 assists, 79% impacting goals and 80% impacting assists—three assists across 18 matches.

However, the 26-year-old Lookman is the difference-maker just now and has quickly made it impossible for Peseiro to drop him.

Perhaps Lookman would never have started for Nigeria at the just concluded AFCON in January 2024, but for an injury to Victor Boniface which ruled the Bayer Leverkusen forward out just before the tourney began.

Jose Peseiro’s transition to a 5-2-3/3-4-3 formation unlocked the best of Ademola Lookman especially in transitions.

Lookman started these games on the inside left of a three-pronged attack alongside Osimhen and Moses Simon, but the 24-year-old had the freedom to drift around the pitch looking for pockets of space to do damage. This freedom enabled him to evade defenders’ attention, find space, and capitalize on goal-scoring opportunities.

His prowess on the field has not only been a boon for Nigeria at the AFCON 2024, mainly where his stellar contributions included three goals and one assist in five appearances. He has also seen him become a linchpin for Atalanta. His ability as an attacking player to maneuvre through tight defenses, coupled with his keen sense of positioning, has been pivotal in creating opportunities and opening spaces for his teammates.

Lookman’s knack for dribbling past opponents and retaining possession under pressure adds a dynamic layer to his attacking strategy, proving that his value on the pitch goes far beyond the numbers.

The nimble attacking midfielder’s journey from an uncertain future at Leicester City to becoming a vital cog at Serie A’s Atalanta is nothing short of a football fairytale, and the buzz we’re humming around him isn’t just for his on-field exploits; the striker’s future will pop up as a hot topic in the next transfer market.

Currently valued at €30 million, with a contract running for a little over two years at Atalanta, it’s speculated that his price tag could soar if he keeps up this impressive performance.

We know that Ademola Lookman is catching the eye of European giants, including but not limited to Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan, and Juventus.

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