Sports

Lookman switches allegiance to Nigeria’s national team from England

Published

2 years ago

November 9, 2021

Ademola Lookman

Leicester City forward Ademola Lookman has officially switched to Nigeria and will likely represent the Super Eagles in upcoming international matches.

Lookman was not called into Nigeria’s upcoming November international fixtures, but could be a part of the squad for team’s next set of fixtures.

Lookman, who has played club football for Everton, RB Leipzig, and Fulham, joined Leicester City in the Premier League offseason.

The winger decided to switch his international allegiance to Nigeria from England, but must wait to make his debut. The Africa Cup of Nations will kick off in January and football fans around the world are debating which team will win the tournament.

The London-born player has struggled to break into the English national team, but hopes to get into the Nigeria team more easily.

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The 24-year-old has made 11 appearances for Leicester City thus far in 2021-22, scoring two goals.

He hasn’t been a regular for manager Brendan Rodgers, tallying just 548 minutes in 11 matches for an average of 50 minutes per appearance.

In 2020-21, Lookman played on loan at Fulham.

He scored four goals in 35 matches for the Cottagers, despite the team being relegated from the Premier League.

Lookman started his career in Charlton Athletics’ football academy in 2014.

He made a fast rise through the club’s academy and played for the first-team in November 2015.

Everton signed Lookman to a four-and-a-half-year-contract in January 2017. The forward scored four goals in 48 matches for Everton.

After a short loan at RB Leipzig in 2017-18, he signed a permanent five-year contract in July 2019 with the German club.

Lookman played for England at the youth level. He was a part of the England under-20 team that won the FIFA U20 World Cup in 2017.

Lookman is able to play for Nigeria thanks to his parents’ being Nigerian.

What’s the hold-up?

Although Lookman has switched allegiances to Nigeria from England, he will have to wait to make his debut for the team.

The Nigeria Football Federation hasn’t applied to FIFA for Lookman’s nationality change due to the player competing for England at U19, U20, and U21 level.

According to the Nigerian Football Federation, they are aware of Lookman’s intention to play for the national.

The national team will now look into completing the process to allow Lookman to play for Nigeria.

The football federation has stressed that manager Gernot Rohr would consider Lookman for the national team, if the player becomes eligible.

However, Lookman would not be an automatic selection.

Lookman is not the only player seeking a switch to align themselves with the Nigeria national team.

Milwall’s Sheyi Ojo, on loan from Liverpool; Reading’s Ovie Ejaria; PAOK’s Chuba Akpom; and Genk’s Ike Ugbo have also expressed their intentions to become members of the Nigeria national football team.

All four of the players have Nigerian parents despite being born elsewhere.

Nigeria’s national team has a number of exciting young forward players.

Villarreal’s Samuel Chukwueze, Bordeaux’s Samuel Kalu, and Lorient’s Terem Moffi are all in contention for regular places in the Nigeria team.

Lookman would compete with the trio of players for a spot in the national side.

The Eagle

Related Topics:England national team Nigeria

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Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Published

4 hours ago

April 24, 2024

Trends Admin

Cristiano Ronaldo and Odion Ighalo

Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Ex-Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has disclosed that the decision of Cristiano Ronaldo and other top footballers to ply their trade in Saudi Arabia was informed by pecuniary motives.

Ronaldo moved to Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr last year in a stunning three-year deal that would see him earn €210.704 million in total.

Other top footballers, who have made names for themselves in Europe, have also moved to Saudi Arabia as the the oil-rich middle east nation injected massive cash into league in order to make it a football powerhouse.

Reacting to the move of Ronaldo to Saudi Arabia and the influx of big players to the Saudi league, Ighalo said the motivation behind these moves was money and not passion.

Ighalo made this known during an interview with sport journalist, Oma Akatugba.

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He said. “See people that are going to Saudi Arabia, big players. Is Ronaldo still playing for passion? He has made more than 100 times what I have in my life, but he still went to Saudi. You want to tell me that is passion? No, it’s for money.

“It’s only when we Africans say it they will say we like money. But these people don’t care, some of them want to be highest paid and all that,”

Ighalo left mainstream Europe for Chang Chung Yatai in 2017 after playing for Lyn, Udinese, Granada, Cesena, and Watford.

At Yatai, he earned a reported €200,000 weekly salary, before moving to Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua where he also commanded a similar wage.

Ighalo spent one year in Shanghai before moving to Manchester United on a six-month loan deal.

After that, the 34-year-old joined Al Shabbab, where he started earning €170,000.

Ronaldo playing in Saudi league for money like me – Ighalo

Sports

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Lionel Messi

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Lionel Messi showcased his brilliance with a double and an assist for Sergio Busquets as Inter Miami secured a 3-1 victory over Nashville on Saturday, keeping them at the summit of Major League Soccer’s Eastern Conference.

Despite a shaky start that saw Franco Negri inadvertently deflect a corner into Miami’s net within two minutes, Messi swiftly equalized in the 11th minute after Luis Suarez redirected a rebounded shot from the Argentine.

Messi continued to menace Nashville’s defense, narrowly missing another goal before providing an exquisite cross for Diego Gomez, whose header was denied by Nashville keeper Elliot Panicco.

Miami capitalized on their momentum as Busquets, Messi’s former Barcelona teammate, nodded in a corner just before halftime, giving Miami a well-deserved lead.

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However, Miami suffered a setback as Gomez was stretchered off with an ankle injury, adding to their injury woes.

Although Nashville dominated possession in the second half, Miami remained resolute defensively. In the 81st minute, Messi sealed the win by converting a penalty after Leonardo Afonso was fouled in the box.

With this victory, Messi extended his impressive goal-scoring record to nine goals in as many games across all competitions for Miami.

Reflecting on Miami’s performance, manager Gerardo Martino praised his team’s resilience, particularly considering their depleted squad due to injuries.

Despite Miami’s success, Columbus Crew faced a tough battle, twice coming from behind to secure a 2-2 draw against Phil Neville’s Portland Timbers.

Meanwhile, Cincinnati clinched a 2-1 win over Atlanta United, with Luciano Acosta playing a pivotal role in their comeback victory. This highlights an eventful day in Major League Soccer.

MLS: Messi’s double keeps Miami on top of the league table

Sports

Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Trends Admin

Arsenal beat Wolves to return to top spot

Arsenal put their Champions League disappointment firmly in the past by beating Wolves at Molineux and moving back to the top of the Premier League.

Having blown their chance to leapfrog Pep Guardiola’s side six days ago by losing at home to Aston Villa and then being knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich on Wednesday, it was a welcome triumph for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Leandro Trossard’s strike in the last minute of the opening period may not have been the most eye-catching of the Belgian’s career, but it was perfectly timed.

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It came at the end of a half where Arsenal seemed to have gotten stuck after a bright start and nearly fell behind to Gary O’Neil’s injury-ravaged side.

The visitors dominated the second half too, but were unable to carve out the clear chances that would have allowed them to take the game out of reach.

Captain Martin Odegaard added the second deep into stoppage time at the end of the game, turning in from a tight angle after his initial cross had been blocked.

The result means Arsenal are now a point clear of City, with a better goal difference but having played a game more.

They have the chance to apply some significant pressure to the defending champions when they entertain beaten FA Cup semi-finalists Chelsea on Tuesday.