Ademola Lookman: Africa’s rising star and Best player of the year
What a year!
What a run Lookman is having!
What a player!
Finally, Ademola Lookman has arrived on the international stage, having announced himself to the world with a fantastic hat trick in the last Europa League final, boy has he been on form?
Goals, assist, Man of the match performance and above all a focused aura and humility to match it.
It’s been a difficult ride for Ademola Lookman in the past few years, despite his obvious talent, dedication and work rate, he struggled to pin down a place.
The failed panenka at Fulham is probably the peak of all the struggles. He also failed to hit a mark at Leicester, Leipzig and Everton.
Then finally the big break.
Gasperini came calling!
The old school teacher who is tactically aware and experienced. The move to Atalanta was a blessing in disguise for lookman who had switched allegiance from England to Nigeria at that time.
It was a match made in heaven as he gradually found a home in Gasperini’s heart and right now is the talismanic figure for Atalanta, and the most important piece of the jigsaw in their shocking performance to being the current Serie A leaders.
Just a few days ago Ademola Lookman was announced as the current African footballer of the year after fending off competition from the likes of Achraf Hakimi and Guirassay who both had fantastic individual seasons.
It shows how much growth and consistency Ademola has put in. Alongside Victor Osimhen who was the former player of the year, Nigeria now boast two deadly attacking talents and should now be considered a top favourite for next year’s AFCON.
There are not so many world-class talents in Nigeria today but Lookman is proving to be the next superstar out of Africa as a continent and the World in general. Preferably an inverted winger, Lookman is crisp at finding half spaces, good with both feet, quick transition with back to goal, good first touch, fantastic in tight spaces and a very very good striker of the ball!
It would be a hell of a challenge for Atalanta to retain Lookman’s services next season due to the rapid extinction of genuine goal-scoring wingers in the world today, albeit with few players.
The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Paris Saint Germain, Bayern Munich have all been rumoured to be actively pursuing Lookman’s signature come next summer.
One thing is certain, the name Ademola Lookman is now a household name in the footballing world and we are watching the unfolding of Africa’s rising Superstar!
