Ademola Lookman, the current African Footballer of the Year, has paid courtesy visits to President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.The Atalanta forward and Super Eagles star visited Tinubu at his residence and Sanwo-Olu at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday. During the visit, he presented both leaders with his 2024 CAF Footballer of the Year award.
The 27-year-old was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Shehu Dikko. His visit formed a nationwide thank-you tour following another outstanding 2024/25 football season with Atalanta BC in Italy. In a statement posted on his X page, Governor Sanwo-Olu described Lookman’s journey as a powerful reminder of how far passion, discipline, and hard work can take an individual.
He praised the footballer as focused, grounded, and fully aware of the responsibility he bears as a role model to millions of young Nigerians. “Thank you, Ademola, for flying the Nigerian flag high and showing the world what we’re made of”, he said. Beyond his official engagements with Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu, Lookman also immersed himself in Nigeria’s cultural and entertainment scene during his homecoming tour.
He connected with top music figures, including Davido and Zlatan Ibile.During his meeting with Davido, Lookman gifted the Afrobeats star a personalised Atalanta jersey and, in return, received fashion pieces from Zlatan Ibile’s streetwear brand, ZTTW. This tour marked Lookman’s first official visit to Tinubu since winning the 2024 African Footballer of the Year in December 2024.
Related: Wheelbarrow Pusher Vanishes with N257K Goods in PH Market
Following his emergency, the President commended his achievements, praising him as a true embodiment of Nigerian resilience and excellence. “Let no one write us off,” Tinubu declared, adding that Lookman and his fellow athletes represented the very best of the country. He expressed optimism that their feats would continue to inspire aspiring sports stars across Africa.
Lookman clinched the CAF title on the back of a spectacular 2023/24 campaign, where he registered 17 goals and 11 assists across all competitions for Atalanta. He delivered a stunning hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, securing Atalanta’s first major European trophy.
At the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, Lookman stood out as one of Nigeria’s top performers, netting three goals as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up. His performance earned him a place in the tournament’s Best XI, alongside team captain William Troost-Ekong.
This just-concluded season, Lookman continued to shine, scoring 15 goals and providing five assists in 31 Serie A appearances, helping Atalanta secure a third-place finish. In the UEFA Champions League, he played in seven matches, recording five goals and one assist, and also featured in the Supercoppa Italiana.
