Looking beyond Lookman

Indeed, I agree with the popular saying that no condition is permanent. Seasons of life change. Drought and difficulties do not last forever.

How else do we explain Nigeria’s situation with the CAF men’s Footballer of the Year award? For 24 years, the award could not find a route to Nigeria. After 1999 when Nwankwo Kanu won it till 2022, it looked like Nigeria would not get near the crown again. The mercurial Austin Jay Jay Okocha, top class Vincent Enyeama, John Mikel Obi and even John Utaka tried to drag it here but there was the complete dominance of Samuel Eto and Didier Drogba, and then Yaya Toure after them in a fashion similar to the Messi/Ronaldo style at the world stage.

After the Eto, Drogba, Yaya Toure reign, it became the Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane era, then both teammates at Liverpool ‘monopolised’ the awards and were switching positions as winners and runners up among themselves. Between these winners were other worthy winners like Riyad Mahrez, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Emmanuel Adebayor and Frederic Kanoute.

However, fortune has smiled on Nigeria again with back to back wins in 2023 and 2024. First, it was Victor Osimhen’s emergence in 2023 owing to his superlative showing for his Italian club Napoli and the Super Eagles that restored the Nigerian pride and following immediately after is Ademola Lookman. Both (Osimhen and Lookman) coronations as Africa’s Best were thoroughly deserved. Both men were undoubtedly Africa’s best in the years under review. It would not be out of place to once again congratulate the duo – Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman on their awards and also appreciate their impactful performances for the Super Eagles. Individual awards have a way of inspiring teammates and colleagues to giving more and going the extra mile. Osimhen was an inspiration on and off the pitch for the Super Eagles during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote’d Ivoire. He may not have scored many goals but his all round, all action performance played a huge role in leading Nigeria to a second place finish. Lookman also had an excellent AFCON tournament. The clincher of the award for him was his hat-trick in the Europa League final, helping his Italian club Atalanta to their first major European title. Currently, his goals have kept Atalanta on top of the serie A. Clearly what Osimhen and Lookman have underlined is that Nigeria is not lacking in talents, at least not for now. We do not have a talent problem at any level. Managing the resources available to us through proper planning, good organisation and administration is where we fall short most of the time.

In spite of all these, Nigerians will be hoping for a lot more from Lookman…the biggest expectations being that his goals will help the Super Eagles land one of the nine automatic tickets for Africa at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. For sure, we know that talent is not enough but we can also agree that talent remains a key ingredient.

As we look into the new year 2025, it is crucially important to highlight that one of our biggest successes and major projections in sports should be to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. I have had cause to disagree with some of my colleagues that say it is all over for the Super Eagles as it concerns the 2026 Mundial. The race is not over for Nigeria. Yes, we are at the lower rung of the table in our group and so in a precarious situation but the race is far from over. Nigeria is four points adrift of the top teams with six games to go. So, why should we give up so soon when there is still a lot to fight for? Can we win all our remaining games? Are we capable of a six-game winning streak? Yes, we can.

It will be tough, in fact very tough to achieve, but it is not impossible.

I can almost hear you say that for our darling Eagles that have drawn games at home to Lesotho, lost to Rwanda, struggled to beat Libya, and therefore it would be foolhardy to expect a six-game winning streak. Let me make a few suggestions on how I believe we can turn things around positively.

1. Sort out the coaching situation with the Super Eagles

Are we sticking with the interim arrangements currently in place or getting a substantive manager (foreign or local)? Whichever decision is taken carries the same probability for success or failure so the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) need to take a decision NOW! We are about 12 weeks away from the next round of World Cup qualifiers so the luxury of time is not at our disposal. We have wasted all the time we had. Let the football authorities think long, deep and hard and make the decision. We can only hope they make the right one.

2. Break down the remaining World Cup campaign into short term goals

The FIFA international window naturally breaks things down for us. It is a lot easier to plan to win our next game than to think of a six-game winning run. So let all efforts and planning be on winning our next game in March away to Rwanda who interestingly beat Nigeria in Uyo in the last 2025 AFCON qualifier last month.

Let me borrow the words of former Super Eagles’ coach, Gernot Rohr, now one of our main adversaries in the 2026 World Cup campaign: “The most important game is always the next one.”

3. Keep the players/staff motivated on and off the pitch

The NFF have a responsibility to keep the players motivated first off the pitch and then on the pitch. Having worked with most of the current bunch of Eagles players for close to six years, I can boldly attest to their high level of discipline. However, all their welfare and money issues should never be taken for granted. The same applies to the technical staff and all other officials. The salaries of the coaches (in case a new coach is employed) and the allowances, bonuses of players, coaches and officials should be paid as at when due. The players should be encouraged to meet and discuss issues among themselves, in their WhatsApp group. They should be involved in planning and decision making. Injured, recuperating players should be checked on regularly, properly followed up and visited if need be. Luckily for the football federation, the key men in the leadership of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and the Director General Hon Bukola Olopade are proper football persons who have worked with the Eagles before so they would be able to relate with what would be needed to psyche up the team, rev up their spirit and galvanise them to success.

There is the talk of a Presidential Task Force (PTF) for the 2026 World Cup campaign making the rounds. When they come on board, I would expect them to play a complementary role to the NFF) and the NSC. They should not be bitter rivals or competitors, battling for the limelight or trying to outshine the other, not usurping the roles and functions of these bodies, thereby doing more harm and good in the process. A complementary PTF would be helpful to Nigeria’s cause to be at the 2026 World Cup as it would guarantee direct access to the highest office in the land, ensuring that qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is truly a NATIONAL ASSIGNMENT.