Former Super Eagles coach Jose Peseiro has revealed that Ademola Lookman only chose to play for Nigeria due to his inability to secure an England call-up, Soccernet.ng reports.
Lookman is one of many players in the Super Eagles squad with dual citizenship. Born to Nigerian parents in London, he was eligible to represent either England or Nigeria.
The 28-year-old attacker represented England at the U-19, U-20, and U-21 levels. He was a member of the English squad that won the 2017 U-20 World Cup, contributing three goals during the team's successful campaign.
However, he decided to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria in 2020 and subsequently made his debut in March 2022.
After a slow start, he began making his mark during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations — his first major international tournament.
So far, the Atletico Madrid man has recorded 11 goals and nine assists in 41 appearances, establishing himself as a key player for the Super Eagles.
However, Nigeria could very well have missed out on a talent like Lookman. In a recent interview, Peseiro revealed that Lookman initially hesitated to play for Nigeria while waiting for an England call-up.
He eventually committed to the Super Eagles after being repeatedly overlooked by the Three Lions.
“He was just a kid, but he always told me how sad he was because after winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 and reaching the Under-21s, England stopped calling him up,” Peseiro told Marca.
“He didn't understand it; he thought he had a future there, but he had to accept it.
“So, since his parents were Nigerian, he accepted the call a few months before I arrived.”
Jose Peseiro Hypes Ademola Lookman's Importance For Nigeria
Jose Peseiro was appointed as coach of the Super Eagles just a few months after Lookman started playing for Nigeria. And before he took over as coach, the Atletico Madrid man was still struggling to impact games for Nigeria.
However, Peseiro says that he saw the potential in Lookman and found the best way to him so he could affect the game better.
“Although he (Lookman) had made his debut, he didn't always play. I saw his potential, made him a consistent starter, and he exploded,” Peseiro added.
“He began to have fantastic seasons and was crucial in getting us to the Africa Cup of Nations final and in Atalanta winning the Europa League with his three goals.
“Osimhen was the star, but he hasn't been far behind; he's even scored more goals (Lookman has six in 13 games, compared to the Galatasaray striker's five in 14). Now they're both stars.”
Over the last three years, Lookman has distinguished himself as one of the best players on the continent. He even won the CAF Player of the Year two years ago.
The Super Eagles star recently moved to Atletico Madrid, and he will be looking to make a significant impact there, just as he did at Atalanta.
