AFCON 2023 – Ademola Lookman: Atalanta star tipped for Player of the Tournament award

The former Everton and Leicester City ace has lit up the tournament for Nigeria and could end up being named its best footballer

Nigeria’s Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has tipped Ademola Lookman to be named the best player of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Soccernet.ng reports.

Many of the best African stars expected to set the AFCON ablaze failed to live up to expectations.

Egypt’s Mo Salah, Ghana’s Mohamed Kudus, Senegal’s Sadio Mane, Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech, and Cameroon’s Vincent Aboubakar have all exited the tournament.

While Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon have been influential for Nigeria, Lookman has been the Super Eagles’ most productive player, with three goals and one assist.

Lookman grabbed the brace that lifted Nigeria past Cameroon in the Round of 16.

On Friday, he scored the winning goal again as the Super Eagles shot past Angola into the semifinals of the AFCON.

No other player left in the tournament has contributed to more goals than Lookman, and the Atalanta forward could be in the running for the Player of the Tournament award should Nigeria lift the trophy.

While expressing his delight at Nigeria’s slim victory over Angola, Keyamo has backed Lookman to be recognised for his industry and contributions.

Keyamo wrote on Twitter: “Hard-fought victory, but well deserving. We won because of the individual qualities of our players and especially the quality of that final ball laid to Lookman, who is likely to emerge the player of the tournament.”

Lookman is appearing at his first major tournament for Nigeria, having dumped his country of birth, England, to play for the African giants.