AFCON: NFF explains why Ademola Lookman was not invited.

December 30, 2021

Amid backlash, the Nigeria football Federation has come out to explain why Ademola Lookman won’t be representing Nigeria in AFCON in January.

Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr, listed Leicester City’s Ademola Lookman in his initial 40-man provisional squad list for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, it has been revealed.

Lookman, a former England youth international, applied to switch his allegiance to the country of his parents’ nationality in October.

The 24-year-old, who was born in England and played for them at U-19, U-20 and U-21 levels, helping them win the U-20 World Cup in 2017, was, however, left out of Nigeria’s final 28-man squad released by Austin Eguavoen last week.

The Leicester City forward scored the winner for the Foxes as they defeated Liverpool 1-0 at the King Power Stadium in a Premier League clash on Tuesday.

NFF has released the statement below explaining why Ademola Lookman has been omitted from the final list:

“The Nigeria Football Federation has stated categorically that Ademola Lookman of Leicester City FC OF England has not yet been cleared by World Football body, FIFA to represent Nigeria at International level. The process for his switch is ongoing.

It is therefore incorrect for any medium to claim that interim Head Coach @austineguavoen is the one who axed the player from Nigeria’s final list of 28 for the Africa Cup of Nations Cameroon 2021.

However, his name was included in the initial provisional list with the believe that the process would have been completed before the commencement of Afcon.” NFF.

Rohr also named little-known 28-year-old Amachi Iwuji of Al Masry in Egypt, Valentine Ozonwafor, Peter Olayinka, Semi Ajayi, Tyronne Ebuehi, Calvin Bassey, Kingsley Michael and Henry Onyekuru in his provisional squad.

Austin Eguavoen, who replaced Rohr after five years in charge of the team, however excluded the eight listed players along with Innocent Bonke, Kevin Akpoguma, Paul Onuachu and Samuel Kalu from the squad and included two players out of the initial provisional squad for the forthcoming tournament billed to kick off January 9 in Cameroon.

The players are Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali and Orlando Pirates midfielder Olisa Ndah

The players are Huesca midfielder Kelechi Nwakali and Orlando Pirates midfielder Olisa Ndah.