Ademola Lookman has stolen the limelight from star man Victor Osimhen on Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals, with the former England youth international scoring all their goals so far in the knockout stage.
While reigning African Player of the year Osimhen has not found the net at the tournament since the Super Eagles’ opening 1-1 draw with Equatorial Guinea, Lookman bagged a brace in the 2-0 defeat of Cameroon in the last 16 and followed that with the only goal in the 1-0 defeat of Angola in the quarter-finals.
Nigeria may need Lookman to extend that run against South Africa on Wednesday, with Osimhen a major doubt for the game with an abdominal problem.
Most analysis of Nigeria has focused on Osimhen’s lack of goals as well as the approach adopted by coach Jose Peseiro, who has successfully put the emphasis on not conceding.
“I have chosen another strategy. The players believe in it — don’t concede goals because we will score at least one,” Peseiro said in one press briefing in Abidjan.
His side have kept four straight shutouts en route to the semifinals, following a switch to a three-man central defense.
However, the 26-year-old Lookman is the difference-maker just now and has quickly made it impossible for Peseiro to drop him.
That is despite the formidable depth available to Nigeria in attack, with AC Milan’s Samuel Chukwueze, Kelechi Iheanacho and the veteran Ahmed Musa kicking their heels on the bench.
Perhaps Lookman never would have started in the first place but for an injury to Victor Boniface which ruled the Bayer Leverkusen forward out just before the AFCON began.
Yet there is a sense that every Nigeria player is pulling in the same direction as they set their sights on winning a fourth Cup of Nations crown for Africa’s most populous country.
“We are behind each other. We don’t take anything for granted. I think that shows in our work ethic, how we fight for each other, how we defend, how we attack,” Lookman said after collecting the award for man of the match against Cameroon.
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