Ademola Lookman injury fears are the one cloud over Nigeria’s 3-1 win over Tanzania. The Super Eagles star was forced off before half-time in Friday night’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in Uyo, and he is now a doubt for Tuesday’s return leg in Zanzibar.
Lookman had set up the opener, slipping a pass through for Alhassan Yusuf to score inside two minutes, and he looked sharp until the moment he went down. But with five minutes left in the first half, the Atletico Madrid forward pulled up and had to be replaced by Moses Simon — and with no official word yet on the severity, Eric Chelle will be sweating on his star man.
How the Ademola Lookman injury happened
The incident came out of nothing. Lookman went down inside Tanzania’s penalty area in the 45th minute without any physical contact from a defender, and he immediately signalled to the bench that he could not continue. Reports from the game described it as a suspected hamstring problem, although neither the Nigeria Football Federation nor Atletico Madrid has confirmed a diagnosis.
It was a cruel end to a bright first half for the 29-year-old. He had created the opening goal with a perfectly weighted pass, and he had an effort blocked in the 39th minute as Nigeria pushed for a second. Instead, he watched the rest of the evening from the bench as Tolu Arokodare’s second-half brace sealed the win.
Chelle’s injury list keeps growing
Lookman was not the only worry for Chelle on a night that should have been all celebration. Calvin Bassey also looked uncomfortable before being substituted late on, and Benjamin Fredrick needed treatment and was stretchered off at one stage.
The concerns come at a time when Nigeria’s attack is already stretched. Victor Osimhen is out after knee surgery and Samuel Chukwueze is sidelined following hip surgery, so Lookman is the senior star Chelle can least afford to lose. The win moves Nigeria up to six points from three matches in Group L — one behind leaders Guinea-Bissau — but the treatment room is filling up fast.
What the injury means for Zanzibar — and Atletico
The Super Eagles travel to the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar for the return fixture on Tuesday, November 17, where another win would put them firmly in control of their qualification destiny. If Lookman does not travel, Chelle will have to lean on Moses Simon, Moses Usor and the in-form Arokodare to carry the attack again.
The timing is just as awkward for Atletico Madrid. Lookman has already struggled for minutes under Diego Simeone — he was left on the bench against Barcelona last weekend — and his agent says he wants a January exit, with Roma circling for a reunion with Gian Piero Gasperini. An injury now is the last thing the player or his club needs, with Atletico returning to LaLiga action next weekend.
For now, there is no official word on how long Lookman will be out, and the picture should become clearer in the coming days. For more on the qualifiers, check today’s predictions. Nigeria got the win they desperately needed in Uyo — but Chelle’s biggest hope now is that his star forward is fit to travel.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0, Stepro) — collage by SportsBuddy
