Former Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Jose Peseiro may have stirred the hornet’s nest following his declaration that Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman is far ‘better’ technically than African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen. But a sizeable number of football aficionados only took a middle course as they do not want to be drawn into the trending debate, writes TUNDE LIADI…
The duo of Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen remain the biggest stars in the current Super Eagles squad. Lookman plays as a forward (majorly left wing) with Atalanta while Victor Osimhen is an out-an-out striker with Napoli.
They both played in the Italian Serie A and were instrumental to the Super Eagles; runners-up finish at 2023 AFCON-suffering an agonizing 2-1 defeat to the hosts, Cote d’Ivoire in the finale match.
Two seasons ago, Osimhen made history with Napoli, scoring 26 goals in 32 league games to lead Partenopei to their first Scudetto in 33 years. Not only that, the 25-year-old (ranked 8th overall) also became the first Nigerian player to make the top 10 of the FIFA Men’s Ballon d’Or list. For his exploits with Napoli, Osimhen was awarded the African Footballer of the Year, becoming the first Nigerian in over two decades to wear the continental crown since Kanu Nwankwo back in 1999.
The numbers did dwindle a bit in the following season, where he bagged 17 goals in 32 games in an injury-ravaged campaign but he is regarded as one of the best strikers in European football at present.
Lookman on the other hand, enjoyed a stellar campaign last season when he helped Atalanta end a 60-year trophy drought with their 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
The former Everton player bagged a hat-trick in the final to help Atalanta defeat Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen and he’s already been tipped as one of the contenders for the African Footballer of the Year award.
But the man who led Nigeria at the AFCON tournament, Jose Peseiro recently made the headlines in an interview with Sports Italia, claiming Lookman has an edge over Osimhen as far as technical ability is concerned.
“Ademola is more technical than Osimhen, more inclined to create the game, and who is now also scoring. He is performing very well this year. He grew up with (Atalanta manager) Gian Piero Gasperini, now he is always playing, and we are happy with him. high level, he too can aspire to do great things,” the Portuguese coach said.
He continued: “It’s no coincidence that they’ve both grown this year. This is because they’re both within a good system of play. Atalanta and Napoli want the ball, they want to play and attack. In these conditions, players get excited like this. Italian football has changed a lot in the last few years.”
Yet many keen followers of the Super Eagles are won’t agree with Peseiro’s postulations with many saying both players are good in their respective rights.
“What I can say is that both players are doing very well in their different positions and it is not ideal to compare two players who are playing in different positions,” Niger Tornadoes’ Assistant coach, Aliko Mustapha, told NationSport.
“I will say Lookman is very exceptional in the wing and he is a terror whenever he holds the ball. You can hardly hold him down because he fights for almost everything.
“ I will say he had a good last season and the icing on the cake was the three goals he got In the final of the UEFA Europa League.
“I will be surprised if he is not among the frontrunners for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year because he worked for it last season.”
He said of the Napoli’s striker : “Osimhen too had a decent season last year despite being slowed down by injuries. But he is someone who offers his more than 100 percent even daring injury to achieve his targets. What he did in February during the AFCON as the only person in the attack, is a rare thing to do.”
Speaking in the same vein, former Akwa United attacker, Akarandut Orok, noted there was no basis for the comparison because both players are doing well in their own peculiar position.
“It is just normal to fall in love with both players because their brand of football is unique but I am not just comfortable with the comparison because they are both good in their positions and they have something positive to contribute to the Super Eagles and their respective clubs,” Akarandut Orok said. “The comparison is not ideal and it is just like saying who is the better player between William Troost Ekong and Victor Osimhen?
“ They are playing in the different positions and have different skills. Lookman can unknot any defence with his football skills and artistry while Osimhen is a born fighter.”
Former Plateau United Technical Director , Ahmed Ibrahim , disclosed that both players still have years ahead of them and should be allowed to blossom than creating unnecessary tension between the two players.
“Everyone is entitled to his opinion but I want to state that both players are doing well and should be commended. I am cut for all these comparisons. The two players are still growing and should be left to continue to grow. Unhealthy comparison won’t do them any good,” Ibrahim, otherwise called Coach Bros, noted
But former Nigeria international Bolaji Douglas aligned his thoughts with that of Jose Peseiro but with a caveat.
He said Osimhen is a born striker but lacks the finesse and skills to do more with football besides scoring, adding that the Napoli attacker needs to improve in that area of the game to become a complete player.
The erstwhile BCC Lions player, noted that Lookman does not have the bullish attributes of Osimhen , adding that the former Everton winger makes up for that deficiency with his skills and trickery to unknot defence.
He said: “Osimhen is a beast when it comes to the physical aspect of the game, a very hard worker and a hustler, but lacks the finesse for the finer details which Ademola has.
“Osimhen handling of the ball looks ragged and could do with some finesse, I remember when young Rashidi Yekini first came to limelight and even of recent , Didier Drogba. Their games lack the finesse and that fine technical details, which they compensate for by their sheer strength and the ability to score goals.
“This is where Ademola and many other players who don’t have the strength and size tend to compensate for their lack of those attributes. They rely on their technical finesse, skills and agility. Ademola uses the ball better and will offer more tactical outlet than Osimhen.”
Douglas lamented the underutilization of Lookman in the Super Eagles whose only direct tactics make Osimhen thrives more than the ex- RB Leipzig winger.
“But at the end of the day if you ask me , who the team will miss most if not on the field, it would be Osimhen,” Douglas continued. “I say this because so far we have not tried to play to Ademola’s strength, we do not have the midfielders to make that work, rather what we have is a route , direct attack football which suits someone like Osimhen who has the strength to battle for 90 minutes posing a menace to the opponent.
“But in a more technically and tactically balanced team, Ademola’s role will become more apparent and Osimhen’s less prominent but still needed regardless,” he stated.
