'You can ask his dad’ - Ex-NFF boss Pinnick reveals behind-the-scenes details of Lookman's debut for Nigeria

Former Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has revealed the behind-the-scenes details of Ademola Lookman's first appearance for the Super Eagles in March 2022.

Pinnick is a strong advocate for the recruitment of players with dual nationality, and it was during his tenure that the likes of Alex Iwobi, William Troost-Ekong, Tyronne Ebuehi, Ola Aina, Joe Aribo, Kevin Akpoguma, Brian Idowu, Semi Ajayi, Calvin Bassey and Ademola Lookman committed their international futures to Nigeria over their second nations.

The FIFA Council member also attempted to recruit Chelsea academy products Michael Olise, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori, Arsenal star Bukayo Saka, and Crystal Palace dazzler Eberechi Eze, but was unsuccessful.

Lookman was on the radar of the Nigeria Football Federation for approximately six years before he made his competitive debut for the Super Eagles in a 2022 World Cup qualifier against Ghana's Black Stars.

Having previously played for England at youth level, the Charlton Athletic graduate decided to pledge his allegiance to Nigeria, knowing his chances in England's senior team were limited due to competition among the forwards.

Former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr included Lookman in his provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, but the forward missed out on the final squad as his change of association request was not approved in time for the tournament in Cameroon.

Amaju Pinnick is pleased that his pursuit of Lookman has proven successful after the Atalanta star was named the African Footballer of the Year on Monday in Morocco.

Speaking to French-based Nigerian sports writer, Babatunde Ojora, Pinnick stated: "I recall just before he played his first game, there were documents/correspondence he needed, I had to rush to Ikoyi Club to meet the dad in ensuring that I got that personally. That's his dad, you can ask him.

"It was a lot of efforts. I was to do this interview last week but I wanted the vote to be quite organic. A lot of people called me to talk about this - the role that I played - but I wanted everything to be organic.

"Thank God everything went well. Like I said, we are all very proud of him but this should be a tonic for greater things to come for him."

Pinnick added: "When I was in the Nigerian Federation, I recall even Musa was about to be dropped two, three matches to the World Cup because he wasn't playing for Leicester, a lot of issues, and I called the coach, 'I don't intervene but Musa must go for this game,' one of these international friendlies.

"He said why? I said this is my own slot, he must go. I said let him be the twenty-fourth player and guess what, Musa was the hero in 2018."

Lookman is the sixth Nigerian player to win the African Footballer of the Year award, following in the footsteps of Super Eagles legends Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu, as well as Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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