Ademola Lookman
FIFA clears Ademola Lookman for Super Eagles
World football governing body, FIFA has cleared Nigerian-born United Kingdom-based Ademola Lookman to represent the country at the senior level of the sport.
Lookman who presently plies his trade at Leicester City club in the English Premier League (EPL) was the subject of discussion ahead of the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cameroon, the technical committee sough for players in the confusion of missing players to injuries.
FIFA’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer, Emilio Garcia Silveiro, Thursday, conveyed to the NFF the decision of the Single Judge of the Status Chamber of the Football Tribunal.
“The request made by the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation for a change of association of the player Ademola Olajide Lookman is accepted.
“The player Ademola Olajide Lookman is eligible to play for the representative teams of the NFF – Nigeria Football Federation with immediate effect,” NFF quoted FIFA in a press statement.
Responding, NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi hailed the record-time approval granted the fresh application by the Federation with regards to Lookman’s desire to wear the green-white-green in the international sphere.
“We sent in the application on Wednesday night after putting all the necessary documentation together. We are happy to receive the approval today,” he said.
It would be recalled that last December, the NFF has explained that its decision not to extend call-up to high-rising Leicester City forward, Ademola Lookman, was down to FIFA not having cleared the player to represent Nigeria at the senior level.
There had been reports that the 23-year old would be included in Nigeria’s AFCON 2022 party if the NFF was more committed and serious.
However, the football body in a statement via its Instagram handle said the process for his switch is ongoing.
“The NFF has stated categorically that Ademola Lookman of Leicester City FC OF England has not yet been cleared by World Football body, FIFA to represent Nigeria at International level. The process for his switch is ongoing.
“It is therefore incorrect for any medium to claim that interim Head Coach Austin Eguavoen is the one who axed the player from Nigeria’s final list of 28 for the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.
“However, his name was included in the initial provisional list with the believe that the process would have been completed before the commencement of AFCON,” NFF said.
Lookman was a key member of England’s U-20 squad that won the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup in Korea.
With Lookman officially cleared to play for Nigeria, it is expected that competition on the right midfield spot will heighten, as the position was the one of the most problematic for the Super Eagles coaches during the just-ended AFCON 2021 with Samuel Chukwueze of Villarreal FC in Spain not having the best of tournaments.
