Super Eagles legend Sunday Oliseh has lavished praise on Ademola Lookman, describing him as a standout player who embodies the exceptional qualities that define greatness.
Since the tail end of last season, the Super Eagles forward has undergone a remarkable transformation at Atalanta.
Lookman had a fine 2023/24 season during which he helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024), climaxing with a historic, match-winning performance for his club, Atalanta, in the UEFA Europa League final.
The Nigerian forward finished the 2023/24 campaign with 33 goal involvements for club and country; he has started this term in similarly fine form, with nine goals and five assists in just 14 games already to his name.
Oliseh explains why Lookman stands out as a truly great player
In a recent interview with News Central TV, Oliseh offered a detailed breakdown of Lookman’s exceptional qualities, revealing the attributes that set him apart as a great player.
“Ademola Lookman is a great player. Why I find Lookman to be a great player is because I’m looking at the qualities, the characteristics that are needed to play the position Lookman plays and how he executes them. He doesn’t execute them at five out of ten, he doesn’t execute them at six out of ten, he executes most of them at 7.5, 8 out of ten, so that’s why I say he’s a great player.
“The man has got pace, he’s got tenacity, he’s unpredictable, he knows how to give width when his team is in possession, he’s always looking for penetration to go forward. His ball mastery is cool, he is nimble-footed, he sells dummies and his finishing.
“I am calling him great because he played at the Europa League final, he did not only just play, he was decisive in winning the Europa League final. That is not what a good player does; that’s what a great player does,” Oliseh concluded.
With impressive performances for both club and country, the 27-year-old has earned recognition on the global stage, including a notable Ballon d'Or ranking, a spot at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards, a place among the final five nominees for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year and a nomination for Forward of the Year in the Gran Galà del Calcio.
