Former Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro has disclosed the circumstances that led to Ademola Lookman’s decision to dump England and commit his international future to Nigeria.
Speaking to Spanish outlet Marca, the Portuguese tactician explained that the Atletico Madrid winger became disillusioned with his prospects in the English national setup after being overlooked despite his success at youth level.
Lookman was part of the England U-20 squad that won the FIFA U-20 World Cup in South Korea in 2017 and later progressed to the U-21 team. However, according to Peseiro, his international pathway stalled soon after.
“He was just a kid, but he always told me how sad he was because after winning the Under-20 World Cup in 2017 and reaching the Under-21s, England stopped calling him up,” Peseiro told Marca.
“He didn’t understand it; he thought he had a future there, but he had to accept it.
So, since his parents were Nigerian, he accepted the call a few months before I arrived.”
The decision paved the way for Lookman’s switch of allegiance to Nigeria, a move that has since reshaped his international career.
The former England youth international has gone on to establish himself as a key figure in the Super Eagles setup, becoming one of Nigeria’s most influential attacking players and a regular starter in major international competitions.
Lookman’s case adds to the growing list of foreign-born players who have chosen to represent Nigeria, further strengthening the Super Eagles with talent developed across Europe.
