Lookman’s Remarkable Rise To Stardom – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

LAGOS – Simply two years submit his alle­giance swap to Nigeria, Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman has risen to be­come Africa’s premier soccer determine, showcasing his excep­tional expertise and the brave choice to fly the flag for the Su­per Eagles.

Lookman made his senior debut in 2015, taking part in as a for­ward for Charlton Athletic of the Championship. He signed for Everton in January 2017, the place he performed primarily as a winger. After becoming a member of Italian membership Atalanta in 2022, he gained the UEFA Europa League in 2024, scoring a hat-trick within the closing in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen and subsequently being named the African Footballer of the Yr, turning into simply the seventh Nigerian worldwide to win the award.

Lookman is a flexible and explosive winger with a dynam­ic model of play. He’s recognized for his direct, tempo runs on the oppo­sition defence, inflicting issues along with his fast toes and shut management.

He has a eager eye for aim and is ready to end probabilities with each toes, in addition to along with his head. Lookman is a artistic participant, who can unlock defences along with his intelligent passing and clev­er motion off the ball.

Having represented England from under-19 to under-21 ranges, Lookman made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2022. He was a part of the squad that completed run­ners-up on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He’s the present CAF participant of the yr.

Final Monday, December 16, within the picturesque metropolis of Marrake­ch, Morocco, Lookman illumi­nated the sporting stage, as he was honoured with the presti­gious title of African Footballer of the Yr, a testomony to his undeterred perseverance and memorable turnaround in for­tune.

Again in 2022, Lookman stood at a crossroads with no inter­nationwide caps underneath his belt, having beforehand represented England on the youth degree. Quick ahead two years, and his res­olute option to don the Tremendous Eagles jersey has actually paid dividends.

As he took to the stage to just accept his accolade amongst foot­ball’s elite, it was evident that the celebrities had aligned for the 27-year-old, marking a monu­psychological transition from a section of doubt to a pinnacle of suc­cess.

Clad in vibrant conventional at­tire, Lookman might hardly con­tain his pleasure as he mirrored on a journey that had propelled him to the apex of African soccer.

“Simply over 4 years in the past, I confronted overwhelming challeng­es; now, I stand right here as one of the best participant in Africa,” Lookman stated, his face alight with satisfaction. “To the younger ones watching, bear in mind this: Don’t let set­backs clip your wings. Trans­type your trials into triumphs and preserve striving for greatness. God bless!”

Born in England to Nigerian mother and father, Lookman’s rise to con­tinental acclaim has been any­factor however typical. He was integral to England’s triumph within the 2017 U-20 FIFA World Cup, scoring three objectives and setting a promising path for his future.

Nonetheless, the early phases of his profession had been mired in chal­lenges as he navigated stints with Charlton, and R.B Leipzig, experiencing his justifiable share of highs and lows.

Regardless of mortgage spells with Ful­ham and Leicester Metropolis that left a lot to be desired, Lookman remained resolute, decided to get his profession again on monitor.

2022 marked a essential turning level for Lookman. Opting to characterize Nigeria, he diverged from fellow U-20 stars equivalent to Dominic Solanke and Fikayo Tomori who opted for the Three Lions. “I’m thrilled to announce that FIFA has endorsed my na­tionality swap,” he shared on X (previously Twitter) following his choice. “I’m grateful for the nice and cozy welcome and desperate to put on the Tremendous Eagles shirt with satisfaction.”

His Tremendous Eagles debut got here in March 2022 through the World Cup playoff in opposition to Ghana, a match that set the stage for his worldwide profession.

Later that yr, Lookman signed with Atalanta, buying and selling the English league for the Ital­ian —a transfer that proved to be the catalyst for a revival in type. In his inaugural season, he notched up a formidable 13 objectives, adopted by one other stable efficiency with 11 objectives the next season, taking part in a pivotal position in Atalanta secur­ing a UEFA Champions League (UCL) berth.

Lookman’s affect didn’t cease there; he was instrumen­tal in guiding Nigeria to the 2023 closing, the place they confronted Cote d’Ivoire. His contributions had been noteworthy as he scored thrice and earned a spot within the Group of the Match.

Might introduced a crowning achievement when he scored a sensational hat-trick within the Eu­ropa League closing, dismantling Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak and securing Atalanta’s first main title since 1963—an accomplishment that echoed all through the annals of foot­ball historical past.

With this stellar feat, Lookman turned the primary African participant to attain 3 times in a significant UEFA competitors closing, a mile­stone that had not been reached since 1975 within the UEFA Cup closing.

His stellar performances didn’t go unnoticed, as he was vot­ed Atalanta’s Participant of the Yr for the 2023/24 season, contrib­uting a outstanding tally of objectives and assists in Serie A and mak­ing the Europa League’s Group of the Season.

On Monday, as he celebrated one more monumental acco­lade, Lookman was topped the African Participant of the Yr for 2024, capping a really phenome­nal profession turnaround during the last two years.

“This award is a blessing not simply to me, however to my household and my nation. Being acknowledged as Africa’s finest participant is an incredi­ble honour, and I’m immensely proud,” Lookman remarked.

With the 27-year-old major­taining his spectacular type as Atalanta gears up for a title chase, and curiosity brewing from a few of Europe’s foremost golf equipment, the sky actually is the restrict for this hovering Tremendous Eagle!