'They made a mistake with him' — Ex-Super Eagles boss explains how Nigeria snatched Lookman from England

Former Super Eagles head coach José Peseiro has opened up on how Nigeria secured Ademola Lookman’s international allegiance, insisting England made a costly error by letting the winger slip away.

Peseiro, who played a key role in Lookman’s rise with the national team, believes the Atalanta star always had the talent to shine at the highest level, but simply needed trust and the right platform.

Speaking about Lookman’s journey, Peseiro revealed the emotional challenges the forward faced after being overlooked by England despite early promise.

“He was still a kid, but he always told me about his sadness because after winning the U-20 World Cup in 2017 and playing for the U-21s, England stopped calling him up,” Peseiro explained. “He didn’t understand it. He thought he had a future there, but he had to accept it.”

Lookman, born in England to Nigerian parents, eventually accepted Nigeria’s call-up in 2022. According to Peseiro, the move was also driven by a desire to prove a point.

“For him, it’s a challenge. He always had the objective of playing for one of the biggest clubs in Europe and continuing to show England that they made a mistake with him,” the Portuguese coach said.

When Peseiro took charge of Nigeria, he made Lookman a central figure in his plans, despite the winger struggling for consistency at Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham and Leicester City.

“He had debuted before I arrived, but he didn’t always play. I saw his potential, I gave him consistency as a starter, and he exploded,” Peseiro revealed.

That faith paid off. Lookman became instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations final and later etched his name into history with a hat-trick that delivered the Europa League title for Atalanta.

Speaking on Lookman’s recent move to Atletico Madrid, Peseiro added, “Playing like that just three days after arriving can only be explained by his quality. If you give him freedom and accept his creativity, he has the potential to mark an era.”

From being forgotten by England to becoming one of Nigeria’s heroes, Lookman’s story stands as a testament to resilience, and a decision that changed his career trajectory.