Ademola Lookman Set to Miss Three Weeks After Knee Injury

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is expected to spend about three weeks on the sidelines after sustaining a knee injury during Nigeria’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match against Tanzania.

The 29-year-old Atlético Madrid winger picked up the injury during the first half of Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over the Taifa Stars at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on Friday, November 13.

Lookman was forced off before the half-time break and was replaced by Moses Simon.

A medical scan subsequently confirmed that the forward suffered a sprain to a ligament in his knee, ruling him out of Nigeria’s return-leg encounter against Tanzania scheduled for Tuesday, November 17, in Zanzibar.

According to reports by SCORENigeria, Lookman is expected to be sidelined for approximately three weeks and could return to action for Atlético Madrid in the new year.

The Nigerian international is expected to return to Spain for further medical assessment and treatment.

His injury comes as a setback for Super Eagles head coach Éric Chelle, who will now have to prepare for the return fixture without one of his key attacking players.

Lookman had provided the assist for Alhassan Yusuf’s second-minute opener in Friday’s encounter before leaving the pitch injured.

Nigeria eventually secured a 3-1 victory, with substitute Tolu Arokodare scoring twice in the second half to give the Super Eagles all three points.

The victory took Nigeria’s tally to six points in Group L, leaving them second behind Guinea-Bissau, who have seven points.