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Leicester City of England winger, Ademola Lookman looks good to start for the Super Eagles against Ghana in Tuesday’s decisive match of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifiers, megasportsarena.com reports.
While Omonia Nicosia of Cyprus goalkeeper, Francis Odinaka Uzoho is also set to start for the consecutive match running, Lookman is heading for his second cap since accepting to switch national team allegiance to star for Nigeria.
He made the switch despite haven gained a successful outing as an England youth international, as he and five other Nigerian-born players – Fikayo Tomori, Josh Onomah, Ovie Ejaria, Sheyi Ojo and Dominic Solakne – were part of The Junior Lions’ squad that won the 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup.
Lookman made the step up to England U21s after the tournament in South Korea but was unable to crack the senior team led by Gareth Southgate before deciding to submit a request for a one-time change of national team allegiance.
The former Charlton Athletic, Everton and Fulham of England winger, currently on loan at Leicester from RB Leipzig of Germany, was born in London but remained eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents.
He then got his Eagles’ debut in last Friday’s goalless draw against Ghana in Kumasi, where he got off the bench as a 74th minute replacement for Moses Simon.
The dashing flank man looked resplendent in the Eagles’ second training session back in Abuja, though there was no 11-a-side game after the jogging and stretching exercises.
Eagles’ assistant coach, Emmanuel Amuneke worked with the wingers, defenders and a lone center forward in Sadiq Umar, while interim boss Augustine Eguavoen was having a drill with the midfielders and strikers on the other side.
Amuneke prepared the wingers for crossing and then prepared the four defenders for the striker, while Moses Simon and Ahmed Musa delivered balls from the right flank, as Akinkunmi Amoo and Kelechi Iheanacho did same from the left flank.
Leon Balogun, William Troost-Ekong, Zaidu Sanusi and Ola Aina defended against Sadiq, and after a while the defenders were changed, with Kenneth Omeruo, Semi Ajayi, Shehu Abdullahi and Calvin Bassey taking their places.
Uzoho was the goalkeeper in this scenario, a strong hint that he will keep his place in goal against the Black Stars on Tuesday, with Lookman also likely to start in place of Samuel Chkuwueze, who is still nursing a knock he copped in the first leg.
Lookman told CAF’s official website: “I am very excited to be part of Nigeria’s National team and I’m feeling blessed and looking forward to helping the team
“Both my parents are Nigerians and I’ve always seen these as a possibility. I came to Nigeria, frequently when I was much younger.
“I am familiar with the people and built up a family here, so the switch from England to Nigeria is not an unusual one for me. I am glad I made the switch.”
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