Super Eagles and Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman, has disclosed that switching his international allegiance from England to Nigeria transformed both his career and his life.
The 27-year-old, who made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2022 and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), recently returned to Nigeria, where he presented his 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year award to President Bola Tinubu and Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Speaking in an interview with ARISE TV, the former Leicester City forward described his current career phase as one marked by self-belief and hard work. “When you work hard every single day, you build confidence and develop in your craft. You understand that, in time, your efforts will be rewarded.”
The player who scored a historic hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, a performance that secured Atalanta’s first-ever European title last season, said that mindset had been essential during the more challenging phases of his career.
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Ademola Lookman, who missed a crucial penalty during a loan spell at Fulham and is now regarded as one of Europe’s most in-form forwards, attributed his success to discipline, consistency, and relentless hard work.
He described winning the African Footballer of the Year award as a profoundly personal and extraordinary moment. “I accept it with immense pride. I’ve seen the legends who have received this honour—some of the greatest names in football. To be counted among them is a blessing,” he said.
Reflecting on bringing the award home, he added, “It was really important for me to return with this award. I’ve been cradling it all day. Bringing it back to Lagos means everything to me. That’s where I brought it, and today, I had the honour of presenting it to the President — that meant a great deal.”
He also stated that he has no plans to retire anytime soon, emphasising that there is still a long road ahead and much more to accomplish.
