Looks like Lookman Exclusion from Nigeria's AFCON List Was A Big Mistake

 

The Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman's superlative performance that saw him score the winner for the Foxes as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the King Power Stadium in a Premier League clash on Tuesday may have cause the Nigerian national team handlers to think again. 

Lookman has hit an extraordinary former since his loan move from RB Leipzig to Leicester City, so much that former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, listed him in his initial 40-man provisional squad list for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Austin Eguavoen, who replaced Rohr after five years in charge of the team, however excluded Lookman and twelve others from the final 28man list. Now, with his yo man performance against Liverpool on Tuesday got everyone thinking again. Maybe, Lookman should have been included in Eguavoen list. 

Lookman, a former England youth international, applied to switch his allegiance to the country of his parents’ nationality in October.

The 24-year-old, who was born in England and played for them at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels, helping them win the U-20 World Cup in 2017, was, left out of Nigeria’s final 28-man squad released by Austin Eguavoen last week.

According to a document made available to Punch newspapers, Rohr also named little-known 28-year-old Amachi Iwuji of Al Masry in Egypt, Valentine Ozonwafor, Peter Olayinka, Semi Ajayi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Calvin Bassey, Kingsley Michael and Henry Onyekuru in his provisional squad.

And surprisely included players like Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali and Orlando Pirates midfielder Olisa Ndah.

Nigeria are drawn in Group B alongside Egypt, Sudan and Guinea-Bissau.

The Eagles will commence their campaign against the Pharaohs on January 11 at the Roumde Adjia Stadium in Garoua.

Four days later, they face Sudan, before a clash against Guinea-Bissau on January 19 in Garoua.