AFCON: Lookman explains new role with Nigeria, Osimhen partnership

Nigeria star Ademola Lookman spoke about his chemistry with fellow attacker Victor Osimhen and expressed elation following Saturday evening’s 3-2 victory over Tunisia at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

“Pleased with the victory today. Three points on the board. (Tunisia) had maybe fifteen minutes of a good spell where they scored two goals but apart from that, we can be proud of ourselves tonight.”

Lookman, who is enduring a difficult 2025-26 season with Italian Serie A club Atalanta, is finding his form with the Super Eagles at the tournament in Morocco. He set up Nigeria’s first two goals before finishing what would stand as the match-winning goal in the 67th minute. Tunisia responded with Montassar Talbi’s header and a penalty kick from Ali Abdi but came just short of leveling the match.

Aerial masterclass by Osimhen earns him today’s @1xBet_Eng Goal of the Day! 🇳🇬🤩#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/L4wzvIdQv5

— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 28, 2025

For Lookman, last year’s African Player of the Year, the AFCON offers an opportunity to regain momentum and his partnership with elite striker Victor Osimhen makes the Super Eagles contenders despite the team’s recent inconsistency. He elaborated more on his role in the dynamic duo:

“You know, when I can I try to find (Osimhen) because he scores goals…he’s good at scoring goals. So, good rapport together and we try to find each other on the pitch.”

“Any way I can help the team. I try to do that from any position. Obviously now, I am playing in the hole…so I just try to find the right spaces to receive the ball,” Lookman said about his role. Known more as a wing forward, the former Charlton youth product is operating in a #10 role as a central playmaker.

MAN OF THE MATCH 🗣️

Nigeria’s 🇳🇬 Ademola Lookman speaks on the win, relationship with Victor Osimhen and new role under Eric Chelle. #YourSportsMemo #AFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/DSRLiSLtwM

— ACLSports (@acl_sports) December 27, 2025

Next up for the three-time African champions is Uganda, a match where they will be expected to finish off a perfect record in Group D. What will be most important for coach Eric Chelle and his players is to maintain positive momentum, something that could take the Super Eagles far like at the 2023 edition where they reached the final before falling to hosts Ivory Coast.