When Ademola Lookman missed that last-minute penalty to tie things up against West Ham United in Fulham colours, it was as if his not-so-smooth career at that time had come to an end.
The Wandsworth-brought-up boy would have been thinking if he had chosen the wrong Career at that time because nothing was going for him. He had just had a big money move from Charlton Athletic to Everton at 20 but all the prospects had just vanished.
In two years at Goodison Park, he managed only a goal. Shipped out to Germany to change fortunes at RB Leipzig on loan and some old touches were found but not for long. The Nigerian-blooded man managed five goals in 22 games.
That brought forth his return to England with Fulham on loan where things got worse. Four goals in 34 games, a last-minute penalty miss that condemned them to 1-0 loss. Not only did they lose the match that season, they also lost their Premier League status that season.
Another season at Leicester on loan where he netted six times in 26 games before he finally made that life and career-changing switch to Atalanta in the Serie A.
Atalanta’s Sure Boy:
The broken 25-year-old crossed over to Italy after sojourns in England and Germany. It was now or never for Lookman. The Serie A side had seen the underutilised potential and taken the risk in 2022. And since then everything has turned a new. What a turnaround, one of the greatest for an African player in his era.
In his first season, he scored 15 times, creating eight goals. His second season saw him take the football scene by storm. 17 goals and 10 assists, a hat-trick in the Europa League Final to clinch the trophy, and not to mention his three goals and star performances at the 2023 AFCON in Cote D’Ivoire.
He was ranked Ballon D’or number 14 and he is nominated for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
The Sure Odds this season:
Lookman has not stopped scoring for club and country this season. He has become lethal in front of goal scoring and making goals in every game.
The new-born Lookman now fires in all cylinders. In his eight goals and five assists this season, he has scored five of those in the first half and created three goals. In the year 2024, he has 16 goals and 11 assists in the Serie A, a record currently unbeaten in the league.
For the Super Eagles, since his debut in 2022, he has now become a star with eight goals in 26 appearances with three of the goals in the AFCON 2023.
With this form you sure can back these picks anytime, any day on the star boy.
- Ademola Lookman to score anytime
- Nigeria win
- Atalanta to score
- Nigeria to score
- Atalanta win
- Nigeria scores first half
- Atalanta win or Over 2.5
- Atalanta score first half
Ademola Lookman, he is the star boy and he is ready to shine!
Bet on Lookman’s next match for Nigeria and for Atalanta right here at Bet9ja!
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