By Wale Mustapha
Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman has opened up about the personal and professional impact of choosing to represent Nigeria over England, saying the decision has been transformative for his career and identity.
Born in England to Nigerian parents, Lookman represented England at U19, U20, and U21 levels before officially switching international allegiance to Nigeria in 2022.
He made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in a high-stakes World Cup qualifier against Ghana.
“Without doubt, it changed my career and my life,” Lookman said in an interview with ARISE TV.
“People know that. This is my home. This is my place. I enjoy it here. I am the son of the soil.”
The 27-year-old forward played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s campaign at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, scoring three goals and providing one assist as the Super Eagles finished runners-up.
His performances earned him the CAF African Player of the Year award in Marrakech last December.
Lookman is reportedly attracting interest from top European clubs and is tipped for a potential move during the summer transfer window.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
