Ademola Lookman is not just playing football at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations; he is composing it. In Nigeria’s stunning 4-0 demolition of Mozambique in the Round of 16, a victory that sent a seismic warning to every other contender, the performance of Ademola Lookman was the defining theme. While the scoreline will show Victor Osimhen’s brace and Akor Adams’ finish, the story, the real, pulsating heart of the Super Eagles’ surge was written by the former Everton winger. This was a display of such sheer command, such effortless influence, that it has transformed Nigeria from hopeful participants into outright favourites. And at the centre of it all, pulling every string, was Ademola Lookman.
From the first whistle in Fes, it was clear something special was brewing. Mozambique, historic qualifiers for the knockout stages, were simply not equipped for the whirlwind that Ademola Lookman represented. He opened the scoring with a finish of casual ruthlessness, settled the contest before half time with two devastating assists, and spent the entire match as a buzzing, creative vortex that the Mambas could not escape. He wasn’t merely a participant in Nigeria’s attacks; he was the source code, the origin point of every threatening move. His ability to find space in the infamous ‘pocket’ between defence and midfield, to receive, turn, and drive at petrified defenders, showcased a player operating on a different cognitive and technical level to anyone else on the pitch.
In the aftermath, amidst the celebrations, defender Calvin Bassey captured the universal sentiment with admirable understatement. “Yeah, he was good, he was amazing,” Bassey said, his words belying the grandeur of what they had just witnessed. “I think he played with so much quality. You could have singled out any one of the boys… but it was a good day.” Bassey’s nod to the collective is what you’d expect from a proud teammate, but the truth was singular and undeniable. On that stage, Ademola Lookman transcended the category of mere “good.” He was the match winner, the maestro, the reason Nigeria won with such swaggering authority.
The numbers, as they so often do, tell an unambiguous and staggering story. That masterclass earned Ademola Lookman his second official Man of the Match award of AFCON 2025. More critically, it swelled his personal tournament tally to a scarcely believable seven direct goal involvements in just four matches: three goals and four assists. In the context of a major international tournament, where games are often defined by tight margins and single moments, this output is not just impressive; it is historically potent. He is single handedly generating a high volume of the most precious currency in football: clear, decisive chances. He is not just part of Nigeria’s campaign; Ademola Lookman is the engine powering its ascent.
This dominant phase is the culmination of a journey marked by intelligent career choices and relentless self improvement. The memory of the talented but frustratingly inconsistent youngster at Everton, capable of the spectacular but not the weekly authoritative, feels like a distant prologue. His transformative period at Atalanta under Gian Piero Gasperini has been the making of him. In Bergamo’s demanding, tactically rigorous system, Ademola Lookman has been forged into a complete modern attacker. He has added tactical discipline to his flair, physical durability to his trickery, and a cold blooded efficiency to his creativity. The Serie A schooling is evident in every move: his intelligent, disguised runs to disrupt defensive lines; his ability to receive the ball under pressure and protect it; and most notably, his vastly improved decision making in the final third. He now consistently chooses the right option, pass, shoot, or drive, a hallmark of a player who has matured into a leader on the pitch.
His performance against Mozambique was a 90-minute exhibition of this evolved prowess. His goal was a study in positioning and composure, arriving at the perfect moment to convert a cut back. His first assist for Osimhen was a delicately guided cross, placed with the precision of a surgeon, inviting the finish. The second was a driven, low ball across the face of goal, a selfless and brutal piece of play that left the striker with a tap in. This range, from delicate creator to ruthless executor, is what makes Ademola Lookman currently unmarkable. You cannot show him inside or outside with any certainty, because he is now adept at hurting teams from anywhere.
For the Super Eagles, the impact of Ademola Lookman in this form is transformational. Historically, Nigeria has been a nation brimming with sublime individual talent,the Jay Jay Okochas, the Nwankwo Kanus, the Rashidi Yekinis, but has sometimes struggled to mould that talent into a cohesive, systematic team capable of consistent tournament success. Under manager Eric Chelle, a clearer identity is emerging: an aggressive, athletic press designed to win the ball high, followed by rapid, vertical transitions. And in this system, Ademola Lookman is the indispensable catalytic converter. Victor Osimhen provides the world class, relentless focal point, a nightmare of pace and power. But it is Lookman who operates in the crucial spaces that connect midfield to attack, who draws multiple defenders with his dribbling to create voids for others, and who possesses the vision and technical quality to exploit those spaces instantly. Their partnership is no longer just promising; it is the most potent offensive duo in the tournament, a perfect marriage of brutal force and intricate artistry.
As Nigeria now looks ahead to a quarter final clash against Angola, the calculus for their opponents is daunting. The game plan for any team facing the Super Eagles is now painfully simple to write down and agonisingly difficult to execute: “Stop Ademola Lookman.” Yet, how do you stop a player who influences the game in so many ways? Do you assign a dedicated man marker and risk leaving spaces for Osimhen or the advancing midfielders? Do you try to congest his favourite zones and risk him dropping deeper to orchestrate or drifting wide to isolate a full back? His current form presents a tactical quandary with no clear solution. In knockout football, where matches are so frequently decided by individual brilliance, having a player capable of providing that brilliance multiple times per game is an almost unfair advantage.
The broader narrative of AFCON 2025 is now being shaped by Ademola Lookman. His story from South London to Charlton’s academy, through the Premier League’s challenges, to finding his true self in Serie A, is one of resilience and intelligent ambition. Now, on the continent’s most prestigious stage, he is authoring his masterpiece. Each flick, each dribble, each defence, splitting pass is a brushstroke in a portrait of a player at the absolute zenith of his powers. For Nigeria, a nation with a rich footballing history that has endured a decade long wait for a fourth AFCON crown, Ademola Lookman is more than just their best player. He is their talisman, their strategist, and their chief source of belief. As long as he continues to play with this breathtaking amalgamation of grace and graft, the dream of lifting the trophy in Morocco feels not just possible, but destined. The Super Eagles are flying, and Ademola Lookman is the wind beneath their wings.