Super Eagles: Why Chelle should consider benching Lookman for Tanzania games

Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle may need to consider benching Ademola Lookman for Nigeria’s upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Tanzania.

​Chelle will be without star striker Victor Osimhen for the double-header, as the forward is currently recovering from surgery. In Osimhen’s absence, Nigeria’s other attackers must step up.

Naturally, Atletico Madrid forward Lookman would be the main candidate to shoulder the attacking burden. The former Atalanta winger has shown undeniable quality for both club and country in recent years, but Chelle faces a difficult tactical decision.

​Why Eric Chelle Should Bench Lookman

​Despite his impressive pedigree, Ademola Lookman should take a back seat against Tanzania.

​Since the end of the Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year, Lookman has struggled to find his best form in a green-and-white shirt.

Considering the high expectations placed on him by both Chelle and Nigerian supporters, he has failed to deliver a truly commanding performance. There has not been a single match where he seized control and dictated the tempo.

​His recent dip in form was evident against Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar during Nigeria’s opening two qualifying fixtures.

For a player expected to lead the line, the 28-year-old was largely anonymous across both matches. Instead, newcomers like Moses Usor and George Ilenikhena stood out, making immediate impressions even on their debuts.

​Struggles at Atletico Madrid

​Lookman’s difficulties are not limited to international duty; he has also struggled for rhythm at Atletico Madrid.

​This season, he has featured in 15 matches across all competitions, starting only nine. Early on, his quiet performances were chalked up to Diego Simeone using him out of position as a central striker.

However, even after returning to his favored role on the left flank, Lookman failed to find his spark, prompting Simeone to hand the starting role to Alex Baena. Consequently, the Nigerian forward has spent recent weeks coming off the bench.

​This slump is particularly surprising given that he was arguably the club’s sharpest attacker during the second half of last season. A player enduring such a rough patch inevitably suffers a dip in confidence, often hesitating to take the necessary risks in the final third. With the Tanzania clash virtually a must-win fixture, fielding an out-of-form attacker carries substantial risk.

​Who Should Step In For Super Eagles?

​Under Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles typically set up in either a 4-4-2 or a 4-3-3 formation — a system where Lookman frequently tucks inside into central position.

​If Chelle decides to drop Lookman, two viable alternatives for that role are Fisayo Dele-Bashiru and Alex Iwobi.

​Both players possess vision, technical security, and past experience operating in advanced central and half-space roles. While neither matches Lookman’s raw penalty-box sharpness or tight-space finishing, they offer different tactical strengths. Iwobi provides composure and tempo control as a playmaker, whereas Dele-Bashiru adds powerful ball-carrying through the middle.

​Each brings a distinct dynamic to the midfield and attack, and it will be interesting to see how effectively either could break down the Taifa Stars if called upon.