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By: Abiodun Adewale and Peter Akinbo
Before the kickoff of AFCON 2013, most Nigerian fans banked on striker Victor Osimhen to score goals for the Super Eagles.
However, while the Napoli forward has been doing the yeoman’s job for the Eagles, Ademola Lookman grabbed the chance to score the goals that have helped the three-time AFCON champions to the semi-finals of this year’s edition.
Indeed, Lookman, who is making his tournament debut has been one of the major drivers of Nigeria’s charge for a fourth AFCON title as the Super Eagles soared into the semi-finals with a 1-0 win over Angola on Friday.
The winger’s three goals in the knockout stage: a brace against Cameroon in the round of 16 and the winner against Angola in the quarter-finals on Friday, fired the Eagles to the last four of the continental showpiece event.
Before he was released by Atalanta for the AFCON on January 2, the 26-year-old was already having a fantastic season at club level for La Dea, contributing seven goals and three assists in 18 Serie A games.
He is replicating that form at the AFCON, scoring thrice plus an assist — for Victor Osimhen’s goal against Equatorial Guinea — to his name so far in the tournament.
After he was included in Jose Peseiro’s final 25-man list for the tournament, Atalanta manager Piero Gasperini was worried about his absence for the club, but all that seemed to have changed with the Italian club rooting for their man all through the tournament.
“This man is on fire,” the club posted after Nigeria’s win over Angola on Friday.
Super Eagles are through to the AFCON 2023 semi-finals thanks to another decisive goal from Ademola Lookman,” the club posted after the win against Angola.
After the Eagles triumph over Cameroon, they also posted, “A decisive brace to secure a spot in the AFCON 2023 quarter-finals,” the club posted on X.
The official handle of the Serie A also did a word play on his name after the game.
“Lookman, Lookmen,” in response to his two goals against Cameroon.
After Friday’s match-winning performance against Angola, Lookman has now equaled Rashidi Yekini’s record of scoring three goals in the knockout stages of the AFCON for Nigeria.
Born to Nigerian parents in England, Lookman successfully switched his allegiance to Nigeria in February 2022 — after winning the U-20 World Cup with the Europeans — and could land his first major piece of silverware with the country, barely two years after his first game against Ghana in the ill-fated 2022 World Cup qualifiers.
His performance has caught the attention of ex-internationals and fans alike.
Ex-Eagles striker Ayo Makinwa said, “Lookman has proven his class at this tournament and I believe there’s more to come from him.’
2013 AFCON winner, Brown Ideye, thinks Lookman is unstoppable.
“Lookman has shown class with the way he took his goals. I hope he continues to score and create more spaces for himself to score more goals,” Ideye told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“I also think switching roles with (Moses) Simon shows great chemistry among the players. He drags the second defender off Osimhen, which gives space for the Eagles to attack. I was given such licence too at the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. Lookman looks like the joker for the Eagles. He is unstoppable now.”
AFCON 2000 runner-up, Benedict Akwuegbu, added, “Ademola Lookman has been vey fantastic in the tournament. His pace, skills and goal scoring have been very impactful for the Eagles and I think he is always in the right spot for the goals.
“For me, Victor Osimhen, Lookman, Moses Simon and William Troost-Ekong are the best Nigerian players at this competition right now.”
Fans say the player’s performance has surpassed expectations.
“Lookman has really surprised a lot of us with his form at the AFCON. He has erased the opinion that most of our players born abroad cannot cope with the physicality of African football. He has been crucial and can stake a claim for the MVP of the tournament if he continues this way and Nigeria wins it,” Olaoluwa Adeleye said.
Godwin Tanko likened his club form to his national team performance. “One of Serie A’s finest doing Nigeria proud at the AFCON 2023.”
“He was really in the game. Everywhere on the pitch. He understands the assignment,” Raph Francisco added.