Ademola Lookman was named Man of the Match in Atalanta’s Champions League clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
Lookman was on target for Atalanta but it was just a consolation goal as they fell to the reigning champion.
The Nigerian international scored in the 65th minute to make it 3-2.
Madrid’s goals were scored by Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior.
Atalanta are now in nineth place on 11 points in the league table.
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Ademola Lookman is the kind of player who reminds you that talent has no borders. Since switching allegiance to Nigeria in 2022, he has proven that he’s not here for vibes but to deliver. Look at his incredible run with Atalanta—scoring goals for fun, creating chances out of thin air, and making Serie A defenders question their career choices. For Nigeria, he’s added flair and precision to the Super Eagles’ attack, yet some people still ask if foreign-born players like him are the problem. Seriously?
Obviously, the Super Eagles aren’t struggling because of players like Lookman, Alex Iwobi, or Leon Balogun. The problem is as clear as a daylight penalty—we’re stuck with bad coaching, inconsistent tactics, and administrative chaos. People romanticize the glory days when the team supposedly had “pure Nigerian spirit” and “doggedness.” But let’s be honest: would Lookman dribbling past defenders, scoring goals, and tracking back for his team suddenly become less valuable if he were born in Lagos instead of London? Are we really saying our issues would disappear if all the players came straight out of local academies?
For context, take a look at Morocco. Over half of their squad at the 2022 World Cup was born abroad, and guess what? They made history, reaching the semifinals and earning global respect. Did anyone say, “Oh, they don’t have Moroccan spirit”? Nope. They cheered their team to the heavens because results speak louder than nostalgia. Algeria’s 2019 AFCON-winning team also leaned heavily on foreign-born players, and not a single soul complained when they lifted the trophy. So, why is Nigeria acting like it’s too good for this winning formula?
The truth is, Nigeria’s current issues are bigger than where a player was born. It’s about coaching staff who sometimes look confused, a federation that prioritizes politics over progress, and a system that doesn’t nurture local talent properly. If we had the infrastructure to develop all the homegrown talent we claim to cherish, maybe there’d be less talk about foreign-born players. But until then, what’s wrong with inviting players like Lookman, who have both talent and top-tier experience?
Critics claim these foreign-born players lack “national pride” and the “pure Nigerian thing.” Really? Lookman chose Nigeria over England, a country with a stronger football pedigree, and he’s delivering consistently. Meanwhile, some of the so-called homegrown players don’t exactly set the pitch on fire either. Are we going to pretend every player born in Nigeria has automatically displayed more grit, passion, and commitment than someone like Victor Moses, who practically carried us to AFCON glory in 2013?
At the end of the day, football is about results. Whether a player was born in Mushin or Manchester, what matters is what they bring to the pitch. Lookman has proven that foreign-born players can enhance the team, and if the NFF plays its cards right, the Super Eagles can become a blend of the best Nigeria has to offer—whether they grew up in Abuja or Amsterdam. So, let’s drop the unnecessary debates and focus on fixing the real problems. Because, honestly, if Lookman keeps scoring, no one will care where he was born as long as we win.
Well said PapaFem
Wholeheartedly agree with your excellent post
Ademola Lookman has always said he feels immense pride and privilege to be allowed to play for the Super Eagles.
What more do these doubters of Foreign Born Players want.
They all try to give their all
Hi Papafem,
Your submission above is almost beyond critique as I applaud you for the idea it conveys and the structure that weaves it into such a compelling and captivating read.
Short put it Looku is the best player in the planet as we speak when it comes to match influence.
Appreciation@PapaFem
what else can one say?
It’s just a shame that the least intellectual and the most myopic and conniving of us have found their way to administration and Management of the country’s entire affairs. More annoyingly, they are backed by gullible and the wilful ignorant citizens who suffer as well.
Simple questions.
Did the current Argentinian squad win their trophies with local players from the Apertura?
Oh, I suppose, Argentina should never have picked Messi, since he literally grew up in Spain. Afterall, he owes his career to Barcelona taking care of him medically and professionally.
How many players in the current African champions Ivory coast was really born and bred in the country?
These ‘ Anti foreign born ‘ are just blinded by emotions driven by vitriol, misconceptions and lack of or mis education. Most are stuck in the past.
I have stated here severally that Nigeria isn’t lacking quality players, we simply lack good management. Currently, the integral unit of our squad( Lookman, Osimhen, Iwobi, Ndidi, Simon, Chukwueze etc.) are that good. They prove it week in week out in their clubsides. Or how can you deny their quality when, hopefully, one of ours is replacing the other as the best in the continent!
It goes without saying the problem with the Super Eagles and a long run, the entire national teams, is Management. We are simply below where we should be.
The simple solution is to simply get the best legs wherever they are as long as they are Nigerians and are willing to play and put the work in. Foreign born or not. It’s a blessing as a country that we have such a wide net of quality in the diaspora, it will be foolish not to capitalize in such grace.
Ademola lookman Upcoming african footballer of the year if caf do ojoro and give it to hakimi I will call them clueless.