Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr has shed light on the extensive effort required to persuade Ademola Lookman to switch his international allegiance from England to Nigeria. According to a report by Owngoalnigeria.com, Rohr’s efforts began in 2020 and spanned almost two years before Lookman finally agreed to represent Nigeria.

Lookman, who played a key role for the Super Eagles and is considered a strong contender for the Africa Player of the Year award, had previously represented England at various youth levels, including winning the U20 World Cup in 2017.

Rohr, reflecting on Lookman’s journey, shared:

“It started in 2020 and the approval came in 2021 when I was no longer the coach of the team. In my provisional list for the AFCON, I listed him but we were still waiting for approval. It came in 2022 just after the tournament in Cameroon. I am happy with his progress so far even though he scored twice against my team.”

He added, “I will say he was around the senior national team set up of England for a while and we had to wait for him after speaking with his representatives and some of his family members. It took two years and I am sure he isn’t regretting it now.”

Rohr’s dedication and persistence in securing Lookman’s switch underscore his commitment to building a strong Nigerian squad, even as he transitioned away from his role with the team.