Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has identified Ademola Lookman as Nigeria’s most important player ahead of their crucial AFCON 2025 semi-final showdown against hosts Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday.
Nigeria have been one of the standout teams of the tournament under head coach Eric Chelle, producing near-flawless performances on their march to the last four.
While Victor Osimhen has often grabbed the headlines with his goals and presence, Oliseh believes Lookman is the tactical heartbeat driving the Super Eagles’ title push.
The former national team captain made his assessment while speaking on his YouTube channel, where he praised the Atalanta forward for his relentless attacking intent and ability to maintain forward momentum even under intense pressure.
“The player that I think is our most important player has been Lookman,” Oliseh said. “This boy has made it difficult for opponents.
In the game against Mozambique, I checked the statistics and he almost never passed the ball backwards. That is one of the hardest things to do. He is always driving forward.”
Nigeria head into the semi-final with impressive momentum, having recorded five wins, scored 14 goals and conceded just four throughout the tournament.
Their balance across the pitch has been a key factor in their success, with Oliseh also highlighting the importance of the midfield unit behind Lookman.
He singled out Frank Onyeka, Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi for providing the platform that allows Nigeria’s attackers to flourish, describing Iwobi as the team’s “pre-assist king” for his ability to create chances before the final pass.
Despite the daunting challenge of facing Morocco on home soil, confidence remains high within the Nigerian camp.
With a solid defence, energetic and creative midfield play, and a potent attack led by Lookman, Osimhen and Akor Adams, the Super Eagles appear well-equipped to take on the Atlas Lions.
As Nigeria chase a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title, Oliseh’s verdict underlines the growing influence of Lookman, whose form could prove decisive in one of the tournament’s biggest matches.
