Éric Chelle has called up Ademola Lookman for Nigeria’s decisive double-header against Tanzania on 13 and 17 November, while the Atlético Madrid forward is going through a difficult spell at club level.
Ademola Lookman is on the list of 24 players unveiled by Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle for matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2027 AFCON qualifiers, according to Apex Football / Vanguard. The Atlético Madrid forward is called up alongside Moses Simon (Paris FC), Taiwo Awoniyi (Coventry City) and Akor Adams (Venezia).
The schedule is tight: the first leg on Friday 13 November at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, the return on Tuesday 17 November at the Amman Stadium in Zanzibar. Two fixtures that come as Lookman, 29, is going through a complicated period at club level.
Wilfred Ndidi captains the squad
Captain Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas) is in the squad, alongside Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Alex Iwobi (Fulham) and Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio), reports Apex Football / Vanguard. Nigeria sit second in Group L.
Up front, Lookman is not the only attacking option: Moses Simon, Taiwo Awoniyi and Akor Adams complete the list of selected forwards.
Three goal contributions in fourteen matches
This season, Lookman has three goal contributions in 14 matches, two of them in Europe, according to OneFootball OffsAIde. He scored a decisive goal in the 2-0 win over Manchester United and provided an assist in the 1-1 draw with Stuttgart.
He was taken off at half-time in three consecutive league matches before coming on late in the 2-0 win over Levante. Coach Diego Simeone feels he is below his best form, but Atlético still believe in him, according to OneFootball OffsAIde. Signed last winter for €35 million, the Nigeria international must justify that investment. In summer 2025, Bayern Munich had preferred the loan of Nicolas Jackson.
Two matches, one ticket
To hope to secure the only automatic ticket for the 2027 AFCON, Nigeria must win both matches against Tanzania, according to Apex Football / Vanguard.
On Tuesday, Atlético face Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Lookman will come up against his former Munich suitors there, according to OneFootball OffsAIde.