One of the stars of the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations was Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman who scored three goals with an assist to powering Nigeria to the final, where they lost 1-2 to the host Cote d’Ivoire, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
The 26 year old carried the burden of delivering goals for Nigeria at the tournament making his first international tournament one to remember for a while.
He went into the tournament on the back of just a goal and an assist for the Nigerian team but left with his head held high with his performance also earning him a spot in the tournament’s best XI made public by CAF.
Captain of the Nigerian side William Troost-Ekong and right back Ola Aina were the other two players of the Nigerian team picked in the tournament’s best XI players. However it is the case of Lookman who scored 13 goal and also had 8 assists in the Serie A last season that has sparked a debate in England.
Lookman represented England at various youth levels and even won the U20 World Cup before deciding to pledge his senior international future to Nigeria, despite pleas from the head coach of England Gareth Southgate.
Speaking on his decision, English journalist Owen Matthew said was one he did in haste as he would have been in the English senior set up with his performances last season and also this season as well, where he has seven goals and three assists.
” He (Lookman) was too much in a hurry. Southgate rates him highly and would have brought him into the set up after his performance last season for Atalanta, even this season he is on fire but he is now for Nigeria”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com.
” Southgate saw all of these qualities earlier and did all he could to stop him but he wasn’t patient. It’s good to see that it’s working for him in the colours of Nigeria”.
Mohammed Mowiz Suleiman
