Ademola Lookman ruled out of Nigeria’s Tanzania qualifier with knee ligament sprain

Ademola Lookman will miss Nigeria’s AFCON 2027 qualifier against Tanzania in Zanzibar on Tuesday after a scan confirmed a sprained knee ligament.

The injury removes one of the Super Eagles’ main creative outlets from a match that could prove decisive in the race for the final qualifying place in Group L.

Lookman was substituted late in the first half of Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Tanzania in Uyo on Friday, with Moses Simon replacing him. Before leaving the pitch, the Atletico Madrid winger had made an immediate impact by creating Alhassan Yusuf’s opening goal inside the first two minutes.

Nigeria head coach Eric Chelle initially played down the problem after the match, as Soccernet reported. However, a scan carried out on Saturday provided a more serious assessment of the injury.

Lookman to return to Atletico

Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed the diagnosis in a statement on Saturday, according to Complete Sports.

Lookman is expected to return to Atletico for additional assessment and treatment. Nigeria’s squad, meanwhile, will travel to Zanzibar on Sunday.

No recovery timescale has been given for the 27-year-old, leaving his availability for Atletico uncertain beyond Tuesday’s international fixture.

Although Lookman’s absence is a setback, Nigeria’s victory in Uyo has given them some margin for error in the group. Tolu Arokodare’s two goals also demonstrated that the Super Eagles can pose a threat without relying on Lookman to complete the attacking move himself.

The more immediate concern for Chelle is the loss of Lookman’s ability to escape pressure and carry the ball forward from the left. His assist against Tanzania came after precisely that kind of direct, early run, an outlet that could be particularly valuable in an away match.

Chelle will also be aware of the conditions Nigeria could face in Zanzibar. His CHAN side was beaten 4-0 by Sudan on the same ground, a result discussed on Saturday, and the Super Eagles may need a reliable route out of pressure if the match follows a similar pattern.

Moses Simon appears the natural replacement, offering experience for a difficult away fixture. Chelle could instead seek greater attacking threat by pairing Arokodare with Akor Adams and relying on the full-backs to provide width.

Whatever approach he chooses, a positive result in Zanzibar would maintain Nigeria’s progress towards qualification from Group L.

Atletico will hope the ligament sprain keeps Lookman out for weeks rather than months. For Nigeria, Chelle’s immediate decision is who will take on the left-sided role when the teams meet on Tuesday.