Sport
Ademola Lookman Names Joe Aribo and Calvin Bassey as His Closest Friends in the Super Eagles
Ademola Lookman, the talented winger for Atalanta and a standout player for the Nigerian national team, has shared the names of his closest friends within the Super Eagles squad.
In a remarkable year for the 27-year-old, Lookman was recently crowned the CAF Player of the Year for 2024, solidifying his reputation as one of Africa’s top football talents.
This recognition caps off a stellar period in his career, which saw him become a key figure for Nigeria on the international stage.
Though Lookman only began his journey with the Super Eagles in 2021 following FIFA’s approval of his international switch from England, he has quickly made his mark.
Lookman played an instrumental role in Nigeria’s impressive run during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held earlier this year.
His standout performances included scoring two crucial goals in the Round of 16 against Cameroon, helping Nigeria secure a decisive victory.
He followed that up with a match-winning goal against Angola in the quarter-finals, further cementing his status as one of the team’s go-to players in critical moments.
Despite falling short in the final, Lookman’s contributions were pivotal in propelling the team to such heights.
When asked about his close relationships within the Super Eagles, Lookman revealed that he shares a strong bond with a select group of players, referring to them as the “innit boys,” a nod to their shared British-Nigerian backgrounds.
He specifically mentioned Joe Aribo, a versatile midfielder currently playing for Southampton, and Calvin Bassey, a dynamic defender who made waves with his transfer to Fulham.
Both players, like Lookman, have roots in England but chose to represent Nigeria on the international stage, forging deep connections both on and off the pitch.
Chelsea player Enzo Fernández is in discussions to join Manchester City. This information was revealed by Fabrizio Romano, who shared that the two clubs are discussing a potential deal.
He wrote: “Enzo Fernández has a verbal agreement with Manchester City on personal terms.
“Deal depends on club-to-club decision, as #MCFC have not sent an official bid yet, but contacts will take place soon; decision on price is up to Chelsea.
“Enzo could be out again this weekend.”
Manchester City manager Enzo Maresca mentions his captains for the team. He mentions Rúben Dias and Erling Haaland.
He shared “We have experienced players. For sure, we have leaders. Now we need to wait four or five more days until the transfer window closes to see if we can add one or two more captains to Ruben [Dias] and Erling , who at the moment are the two captains.”
Maresca confirmed the pair as part of his leadership group ahead of the 2026/27 season, with two more captains expected to be selected after the transfer window closes.
Chelsea manager speaks on the team and shares thoughts on considering a change in goalkeepers, giving another goalkeeper, Mike Penders, a chance.
“Penders is part of the squad, so he has an opportunity. We will decide and then I am giving the team tomorrow to the players, so I prefer to respect that they know first.”
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