Lookman played for England at youth level and opted to represent Nigeria at senior level in October 2021, but FIFA’s accent came in February 2022
By Kehinde Okeowo
Leicester City striker, Ademola Lookman on Thursday, February 10, 2022, got the nod to start donning the shirt of the Super Eagles by world football-governing body, FIFA.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, said after the news broke out that the 24-year-old forward will improve the squad ahead of the World Cup qualifier against archrivals Ghana in March.
Lokman had represented the country of his birth, England at U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels in the past before switching allegiance to the country of his parents, Nigeria.
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NFF had expected the clearance for the striker to represent Nigeria to go through before the 33rd African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon but it wasn’t to be and he was subsequently dropped from the squad.
After the switch was completed on Thursday, NFF President Pinnick told said Lookman will bring more attacking options to the Nigeria team
“Lookman will bring more purposefulness to the team and more attacking options,” Pinnick told PUNCH.
In another Twitter post, he also added, “Lookman was part of England’s title win at the 2017 U-20 World Cup and brings a winning mentality to our team. I can’t wait to see him make our Super Eagles that more formidable.”
Nigeria and Ghana after their early exits from AFCON are expected to lock horns in a World Cup double-header playoff at the Cape Coast stadium, Accra on March 24 and at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on March 27.
The Leicester City forward having completed his switch before the encounter, will likely play a part in Nigerias’ quest to qualify for this year’s World Cup in Qatar.