The turnaround in the form of Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman for the senior national team of Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations has been narrowed down to a change in the responsibility handed to him by the coach, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Lookman provided the assist for Victor Osimhen to draw Nigeria against Equatorial Guinea. He followed it up with another industrious shift against the host country Ivory Coast helping Nigeria to a 1-0 win. He has the most xA (Expected Assists – 0.64) of all players at the tournament and has created the joint-most chances (4) in the competition so far.
Prior to this tournament, his only goals contribution came in the two games against Sao Tome and Principe in the AFCON qualifiers, where the team scored sixteen goals over both games.
” I have a slightly different role now. I drift more to the middle to play behind the main striker and it has helped me a lot to get on the ball and be close to goal unlike when I was wide on the wings”, he told OwnGoalNigeria.com at the team’s media day.
The role is similar to the hybrid striker role he plays for Atalanta where he scored 13 goals with 8 assists last season and presently has seven goals and three assists after 18 games.
Osas Mahawi