Move over Victor Moses, Lookman’s blazing
By IKENWA NNABUOGOR
It was until Victor Moses broke free from the den of the Three Lions to the convocation of Eagles that the history of diaspora Eagles was well re-written.
But it appears the 2024 African Player of The Year in waiting Ademola Lookman will eclipse all that judging by his superlative performance for Eagles and the Atalanta winger doesn’t look like he’s slowing down any time soon.
Diaspora Eagles in this context are both players born abroad of mixed parentage, Nigerian parentage, and the players born in Nigeria but left the shores at a very early age and cut their teeth abroad.
Moses, formerly an Eagle, from Selhurst Park came with a totally different brand of attacking wing football that left fans wondering where his kind of diaspora talent had been hiding, he was that good.
So good he was, having been born in Nigeria and pursued a better life in England that late Eagles’ coach Stephen Keshi’s bionic eyes never left him until his ship left Dover to dock in Lagos.
Before Moses, defender Reuben Agboola can be argued as the diaspora Eagle who made an impact and attracted a few fans as luggage but dumped them in Lagos and hurried back home to London after just nine games.
Moses teased, ran at, ran ragged, fagged out defences as he literally enjoyed himself in the wings, assisting and helping himself to goals even when Keshi moved on and sealed it when he sensationally called time in 2018. He scored 12 goals in 38 appearances.
But all that appears to be heading to the archives as Ademola Lookman looks so well to become the G.O.A.T of the diaspora Eagles.
Like Moses, whose all-round performances attracted massive admirers, Lookman came from England, having been born in the London Borough of Wandsworth, the same birthplace as former British Prime Minister Tony Blair and superstar English singer Phil Collins and he’s attracting more admirers.
Lookman brought something different to the Eagles’ attack and fired more missiles from the wings where Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze (struggling most times lately) had slowed down terribly.
Eagles’ wings have been breathed much life since Lookman arrived two years ago and after just 18 appearances and eight goals, he could be mounting the podium as the new African player of the Year.
Lookman’s songs have been sweet music to the ears of football watchers and the Atalanta wing wonder will definitely be hanging in there for a long time. Perhaps, the captain’s band could be his in the long run.
His style is beautiful, great to see, even for a Cricket or Badminton die-hard fan to dump his great love as Lookman’s all-action approach will even convince a lot more.
Directness is one part of his resume fans will always love to see and Lookman assures that. Quick reminder is the suffering of Bayer Leverkusen captain and defender Jonathan Tau in his hands enroute to his second goal in his famous hat trick showing in the 3-0 win of the UEFA Europa Cup final.
Still only 26 and in his prime, the former RB Leipzig star, whose five-year frantic chase by the soccer apex body NFF yielded dividends in 2022, will surely blaze on to become the greatest ever diaspora player to grace the Super Eagles.
