“The big turning point in my career” — Ademola Lookman reflects on switching allegiance to Nigeria

By: Monsurah Olatunji

Ademola Lookman, one of the favourites for CAF African Footballer of the Year, has opened up about how his decision to switch international allegiance to Nigeria marked a significant turning point in his career.

The 27-year-old winger, who had previously represented England at youth level and won the FIFA U20 World Cup with the Young Three Lions in 2017, made the bold decision to switch allegiance to Nigeria in February 2022.

Just a month later, Lookman made his Super Eagles debut in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana.

Since that moment, Lookman’s career has undergone a remarkable transformation. After joining Atalanta in 2022, he enjoyed a resurgence in form, becoming one of Europe’s most potent attackers.

His impressive performances with Nigeria continued in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, where he helped guide the Super Eagles to the final, scoring three goals and earning a spot in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.

Reflecting on his decision to represent Nigeria, Lookman admitted that it was a career-defining moment.

Speaking to Sporty TV, he said, “It was massive for me. That was really the big turning point in my career also. Ever since I’ve put on the Super Eagles jersey, it’s been fruitful.”

The winger also highlighted the camaraderie and growth within the Super Eagles squad.

“We’ve been able to achieve a lot as a team, and we’re still growing as a team. The togetherness of the team is something that’s very special within the squad,” Lookman added.

Though Nigeria fell short in the AFCON final, Lookman remains optimistic about the team’s future.

“We showed that in the last AFCON when we got to the final but unfortunately we came up a bit short. The foundations are there and it’s a fantastic feeling to say I’m representing my country,” he concluded.

Since making his switch, Lookman has earned 28 caps and scored eight goals for Nigeria, further cementing his status as a key player for the Super Eagles.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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