Current African Footballer of The Year, Ademola Lookman has been tipped to push aside his ongoing transfer tussle with Atalanta of Italy in order to concentrate on playing for the Super Eagles against Rwanda and South Africa.
Sports247 reports that Nigeria has crucial FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda in Uyo on September 6th and away to South Africa on the 9th of the same month, with Lookman expected to play key roles in both games.
Ahead of the opening of Nigeria’s camp on Monday, Lookman is yet to sort out his long-drawn transfer issue, but former Super Eagles’ midfielder, Christian Ndubuisi Obodo says there’s no cause for alarm.
The former creative midfielder said he believes that Lookman’s passion for the Eagles’ jersey will make him overcome his personal issues in order to play well for the country in both games.
Obodo (aka Bundle of Skills) went on to relate Lookman’s ongoing scenario with the one that played out at about this time last year between Victor Osimhen and another Italian club, SSC Napoli, but the ex-international recalled that the Galatasaray of Turkey star still excelled in action for Nigeria.
Obodo further opined, “For me, he has that strong mentality like Osimhen. I remember when a similar bad buzz was coming for Osimhen, he was still invited to the national team. So, he came, and he scored.”
Obodo, who made his biggest marks in club football while playing in Italy with Perugia and Fiorentina, further went on to acknowledge that transfer issues are common occurrences in football, then posited that there’s nothing unusual about Lookman’s case.
He added, “We know Lookman is one of the best players in our team, and he makes a difference inside the pitch.
“Sometimes things like this happen in football. So, I think the mentality in him will be strong enough when it’s time to play for the country. It’s a different ball game.”
He concluded with a view that feeling at home in the Eagles’ camp would make Lookman shake off his trauma at Atalanta for now and concentrate on the national assignments at hand.
“He will be happy coming back home; seeing his family, seeing his fans, seeing his teammates, and all the brothers. So, I think that should not be a problem, and I think the coach of the national team did well by inviting him,” Obodo reiterated.
