Atlético Madrid winger Ademola Lookman has suffered a knee ligament sprain picked up with Nigeria. Ruled out of the return match against Tanzania in Zanzibar, he is heading back to Spain for scans and further treatment.
The evening had started well enough for Ademola Lookman. On Friday in Uyo, the Nigerian international winger set the Super Eagles on their way to victory over Tanzania (3-1) in the first leg of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, providing the assist for Alhassan Yusuf as early as the 2nd minute, Brila reports.
But the Atlético Madrid winger went down late in the first half, after feeling discomfort on a left-footed shot and then taking a knock on the same knee. Replaced by Moses Simon, he did not return to the pitch.
Official confirmation from the Super Eagles
The scans have delivered their verdict: a knee ligament sprain, which rules him out of the return match against Tanzania on Tuesday 17 November in Zanzibar. The Nigerian medical staff announce that he is returning to Spain for scans and further treatment, according to Xinhua and Brila.
It was Promise Efoghe, the Super Eagles’ media officer, who broke the news. “Scan has revealed Ademola Lookman suffered a sprain in his knee ligament during yesterday’s match,” he said, which rules the player out of Tuesday’s match against Tanzania in Zanzibar.
The announcement contrasts sharply with the tone used just after the game: Eric Chelle, the Nigeria head coach, had played down the injury, calling it a “small problem”, according to Brila. The scans have since given the matter a different dimension.
At Atlético, a packed schedule
The exact length of Lookman’s absence remains unclear. The Madrid club has not yet confirmed the period of unavailability, according to Xinhua. His presence is, however, highly uncertain for Atlético’s next three fixtures: Getafe and Elche in La Liga, then Viking FK in the Champions League.
Barcelona are also on the horizon: the La Liga match, brought forward to February because of the Spanish Super Cup, will depend on the severity of the injury, according to Xinhua. No precise timeframe has therefore been put forward for now.
Two goals in fifteen appearances this season
Having arrived at Atlético in February, Lookman had scored 6 goals and provided 2 assists in 20 matches in the second half of last season, Xinhua recalls.
This season, he has scored just 2 goals in 15 appearances, several of them as a substitute, according to the same source. Nigeria and Tanzania meet on Tuesday 17 November in Zanzibar for the return leg of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, without their winger.