Why will Ademola Lookman be the top star of the Nigerian national team?

Nigeria has always been home to prolific forwards—names like Obafemi Martins, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, and Yakubu Ayegbeni come to mind.

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But recently, one man has emerged as the clear leader: Victor Osimhen, who dazzled at Napoli. Osimhen became not just the face of the Neapolitans, but also of the national team, with his performances, often wearing his iconic mask, adding to his aura.

However, times change, and competition has arrived for Osimhen, in the form of Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface. Let’s focus on Lookman, who stands out more than Boniface, despite the latter's impressive emergence at Bayer Leverkusen last season and limited experience with the national team. Lookman, on the other hand, is a fascinating figure.

Why could Lookman surpass Osimhen?

To begin with the obvious: Ademola has not faded. While Osimhen’s move to Turkey with Galatasaray suggests a decline in stature—especially given his controversial exit from Napoli—Lookman remains a key figure in Serie A, with Atalanta competing in the Champions League. The contrast is stark: Galatasaray, playing in the Europa League, versus Lookman’s Atalanta in the prestigious Champions League.

Osimhen’s early performances at Galatasaray have also been underwhelming. In a 5-0 win over Rizespor, despite playing the full 90 minutes as the lone forward, he managed just a single assist. Meanwhile, Lookman, at 26, a year older than Osimhen, has flourished since joining Atalanta in 2022. He won the Europa League with the club, scoring a hat-trick in the final, and unlike Osimhen, hasn’t looked for an escape route.

Lookman’s form even drew interest from PSG this summer. Although he declined their offer, choosing to stay in Serie A, his decision was handled professionally, asking to be left out of a few matches to avoid distractions. After rejecting PSG, Lookman returned to Atalanta, scoring a goal and providing an assist in a match against Fiorentina.

We started from the end to address the key point directly: why Lookman is, at the very least, on par with Osimhen. Now, let's focus on the essential question: how did Ademola, with such an English-sounding surname, end up playing for Nigeria?

It’s no coincidence that we highlighted his surname. Lookman holds dual citizenship—English and Nigerian. Moreover, from 2016 to 2019, he was a regular call-up to England’s youth teams, representing the Three Lions and was even on Gareth Southgate’s radar. However, the fierce competition in England, particularly with Harry Kane leading the attack, led Lookman to choose Nigeria in 2020 after turning down three previous offers. Since then, he has made 25 appearances, scoring 8 goals, and continues to grow into a key player for the Super Eagles.

Lookman, who has played for Charlton, Everton, and RB Leipzig, found his stride at Atalanta. Many, including Daylisports, predict he will finish as Serie A’s top scorer in 2024/25 and attract interest from the Premier League or La Liga. His career trajectory remains uncertain, but he has all the qualities needed for another standout season.

And there’s more—Lookman has even been nominated for the Ballon d'Or! While he won’t win the award, the nomination alone is a testament to his talent, particularly for a player from a relatively modest club like Atalanta.

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On September 19, Lookman and Atalanta begin their Champions League campaign against Arsenal. Fans of the Italian side, as well as supporters from Nigeria, should keep a close eye on this rising star!