Is Ademola Lookman on the way to Super Eagles reckoning?
Super Eagles hopeful Ademola Lookman intends to dump the ghetto of bench-warming roles to the leafy opulent neighborhood of regular team football with his recent switch from Leipzig in the German Bundasliga to Fulham in the English Premier League.
Last season, the 22 year old Under-20 World Cup winner with England made a mere 11 appearances out of a possible 35 in the German Bundasliga with the bulk of these coming off the bench; a telling affirmation of how deplorable things got for the youngster having gone to Germany in the hope to painting the league red with goals, assists and all round beautiful wing play.
It started brightly enough for Lookman in his inaugural season for Leipzig where his 5 goals in 11 outings were indescribable in the impact it generated and promised a bright outlook for the ebullient winger.
Sadly, a change of coach at the beginning of last season meant a change in tactical orientation which ultimately led to a change in fortunes for the player who was said to have switched nationalities from England to Nigeria earlier in the year.
Never again will the opportunities present themselves for the sort of crucibles that led to the productive outings his output generated in the previous season.
Having been informed of the proviso for putting on a Super Eagles shirt, Lookman would have been acutely aware that he needed games, goals and grandiosity in club football if his ambitions of playing for Nigeria are not to be rendered impotent.
“Once the go-ahead (from FIFA) is sorted, it will be up to coach Gernot Rohr to decide if Ademola’s club performance would earn him a Super Eagles call up,” said Nigeria’s technical assistant Adelakun earlier.
“All dual nationality players are aware of this caveat; they were all told they can only earn a place in the (star studded Super Eagles) squad by playing regular club football,” he added (paraphrased).
Now that Lookman has taken a leap of faith, productive playing-time in England will surely put him in the radar of probable and possible Super Eagles invitees.
Even if he doesn’t get invited, now that he has identified as a Nigerian, his exploits in the English Premier League will at least serve as a palatable meal for the ever famished Super Eagles fans to feast their eyes on in club football week in week out.
Ademola Lookman, who has 5 goals in 26 appearances for England Under-20s and Under-21s, can play as a centre forward, support striker, and left or right winger.
His availability itself is an asset for the Super Eagles for many seasons to come. The likelihoods lurking behind this possibility are tantalising so say the least.
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