Former Nigeria head coach José Peseiro has declared that Atlético Madrid winger Ademola Lookman is not far behind Victor Osimhen in terms of potential and impact.
Speaking in an interview with Spanish outlet Marca, Peseiro reflected on Lookman’s rapid development during his time in charge of Nigeria and revealed how he helped unlock the winger’s consistency at international level.
“Although he had made his debut, he didn’t always play. I saw his potential, made him a consistent starter, and he exploded,” Peseiro said.
“He began to have fantastic seasons and was crucial in getting us to the Africa Cup of Nations final and in Atalanta winning the Europa League with his three goals.”
Peseiro acknowledged Osimhen’s long-standing reputation as Nigeria’s leading star but insisted that Lookman’s rise has been just as significant in recent seasons.
“Osimhen was the star, but Lookman hasn’t been far behind; he’s even scored more goals,” he added. “Lookman has six goals in 13 games, compared to the Galatasaray striker’s five in 14. Now they’re both stars.”
The former Nigeria boss’ remarks underline Lookman’s growing influence both at club level and with the Super Eagles, as he continues to establish himself among Africa’s elite attacking talents.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
