Ademola Lookman’s Journey: From Early Setbacks to Africa’s Top Player

Ademola Lookman accepted his African player of the year award dressed in an agbada, a customary Nigerian robe. He delivered a message, stating, “To the youth of Africa I say: Never give up. Turn pain to power.” The path Ademola Lookman took to be named the men’s African footballer of the year was marked by significant fluctuations, but the Nigeria international recognizes that his recent achievements serve as an inspiration. As a teenager, the forward struggled to establish himself after a high-value transfer to the Premier League, leading to multiple loan periods before experiencing a resurgence in Italy upon joining Atalanta in August 2022. “Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa,” Lookman, 27, stated from the stage while receiving his award in Marrakesh on Monday. He also advised, “Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.” Dressed in the traditional Nigerian robe, he also conveyed a specific message in Yoruba to his supporters in West Africa. BBC Sport Africa explores Lookman’s unique path to becoming the sixth Nigerian man recognized as the continent’s premier player, aligning with distinguished figures such as Rashidi Yekini, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, and Victor Osimhen. Lookman, who was born in south London to Nigerian parents, displayed a clear enthusiasm for football from a young age. He shared with BBC Sport, “My first memory is rolling up my socks in the house and kicking them around.” In 2014, he joined Charlton Athletic, then competing in England’s second tier, but considers successfully completing his school exams at 16 a more significant accomplishment. He clarified, “My mum has always been big on education, but being Nigerian it is a bit more intense.” He added, “The pressure is definitely different.” Lookman’s senior debut for Charlton occurred in November 2015, and he netted his inaugural senior goal in his fifth match, ultimately attracting the attention of top-tier clubs through his displays for a team facing difficulties. Lookman registered 12 goals across 49 appearances for Charlton prior to finalizing a transfer to the Premier League club Everton. In January 2017, when Everton acquired the 19-year-old Lookman for £11m ($14m), he was praised by then-Toffees manager Ronald Koeman as “a player for the future.” The Dutchman further commented, “We expect a lot from the boy.” He continued, “I think he is one who can reach a high level if he develops well and improves.” Lookman found the net on his debut as a late substitute during a 4-0 victory against Manchester City, but seldom replicated that level of performance throughout his tenure at Goodison Park. This could be partly attributed to the frequent changes in management, as he played under six distinct managers (including interim coaches) during his two and a half years at the club. Outside of his club duties on Merseyside, Lookman was instrumental in England’s Under-20 World Cup victory in June 2017, netting three goals at the competition held in South Korea. He experienced a productive loan period with RB Leipzig in the first half of 2018, subsequently making a permanent transfer to Germany in July 2019 for a sum of £22.5m ($28.6m). Lookman commented, “I had an opportunity to stay in England but at the time I was like ‘why not?'” He added, “You have got to make decisions as to what you are really looking for. It always comes down to playing football.” Nevertheless, his initial full season with Leipzig proved disappointing, as he started only one Bundesliga match during a season impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. He subsequently returned to the Premier League for two loan spells, initially with Fulham and then with Leicester City. Brendan Rodgers, then coach of the Foxes, noted Lookman’s commitment in training, despite his continued difficulty in securing a regular starting position. Rodgers stated, “He would be out with a bag of balls, doing shooting exercises long after other ones had gone in, working on his right foot, left foot.” He further remarked, “He’s so balanced. Everything is geared towards being the best he could.” Nigeria had shown interest in Lookman since his initial period at Everton, but he did not change his international allegiance until late 2021. He faced significant disappointment in only his second appearance when the West African team was defeated by fierce rivals Ghana on away goals in a play-off for the 2022 World Cup. Subsequently, he joined Atalanta, relocating to Bergamo, a city Lookman characterizes as “chilled.” He recounted, “When I first signed I had food in a restaurant. It was a nice summer’s night.” He continued, “I sat there, ate and thought ‘yeah, I’m going to do this’.” While life in Lombardy may be tranquil, Lookman has delivered exceptional performances on the field for a team committed to an offensive playing style. In his 97 appearances for the club, he has contributed 43 goals and 23 assists, marking the most fruitful period of his career by a significant margin. Three of these goals were scored in May’s Europa League final, where Lookman was instrumental in securing Atalanta’s inaugural continental trophy and simultaneously became the first player in 49 years to achieve a hat-trick in a European club final. Lookman, who grew up in the UK, states he has “always been in touch” with Nigeria through its culture and childhood visits to the nation. Currently a confirmed starter for both his club and national team, he played a crucial part in Nigeria’s progression to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year. Lookman netted both goals in the last-16 win against Cameroon, followed by the decisive goal against Angola in the quarter-finals. Nigeria concluded the tournament as runners-up, but the forward found solace in being included in the team of the tournament. Alex Iwobi, a Super Eagles team-mate, described Lookman as a “great talent” who merits his African player of the year award. Iwobi informed Newsday on the BBC World Service, “The rise that we’ve seen, we’re not surprised.” He added, “He’s so effective. [To] see what he’s doing motivates everyone in the team.” He concluded, “If my brother is working hard, we have to work as hard as him or even harder.” Lookman was the sole African player featured on this year’s Ballon d’Or list, ultimately securing 14th place in the competition for the world’s top player. Prior to the awards ceremony, BBC Sport Africa requested his reflections on his advancements over the preceding 12 months. He responded, “It’s been defining in terms of steps taken, but this is just the start of hopefully something very special.” As Atalanta leads Serie A and pursues its inaugural top-flight title, Lookman’s capabilities continue to expand. For Africa’s premier player, the difficulties of his initial period in the Premier League seem to be a distant memory.