“No pressure” – Ademola Lookman declares Rwanda’s downfall in Kigali

By Monsurah Olatunji

Ademola Lookman, Nigeria’s newly crowned CAF Player of the Year, has declared that there is no pressure on the Super Eagles to beat Rwanda in their crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier, despite the mounting risks to Nigeria’s qualification hopes.

With Nigeria’s World Cup aspirations hanging by a thread following a shocking loss to Ghana in the 2022 World Cup playoffs, the Super Eagles have struggled in the ongoing qualifiers.

After four matches, they remain winless with three losses and a single draw, sitting in a disappointing fifth place in Group C.

However, Lookman, who has been in outstanding form for his club Atalanta with 18 goals and six assists in 32 appearances this season, remains unphased by the pressure.

This will be his first appearance for Nigeria since winning the prestigious CAF Player of the Year award, and many are hoping his form will spark a revival in the Super Eagles’ World Cup bid.

Speaking to OJB Sports after Nigeria’s second training session in Kigali, Lookman emphasized that he is not feeling the weight of expectations.

“No pressure. I am just glad to be back with the squad, the guys,” Lookman said in a video shared by Nigerian journalist Ojbsports on X.

“We have a big task ahead of us and we are looking forward to it.”

The 27-year-old forward also highlighted the positive atmosphere in the camp, with the team fully committed to the tactical instructions of new head coach Eric Chelle.

“We’ve had loads of meetings on how the manager wants us to play—our game plan, aspects of how we defend and attack. It’s all positive, and we’re all keying into his ideas,” Lookman added.

For a nation yearning to reclaim its footballing pride, Lookman’s calm and determined demeanor could be the catalyst to inspire a much-needed victory.

With the Super Eagles desperately needing a win to keep their World Cup dreams alive, Lookman’s confidence and leadership will be critical as they take on Rwanda on Friday.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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