Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman who has emerged as one of the brightest attacking force of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, while speaking ahead of Saturday’s quarter-final match against Algeria, insists personal glory is the last thing on his mind.
The Atalanta star arrives at the knockout stage as the tournament’s highest-rated player, having produced an astonishing seven goal contributions – three goals and four assists – in just three matches. No player at the competition in Morocco has been more decisive, and no player has shaped games more consistently.
Those numbers have placed Lookman firmly at the front of the race for the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award as he has already won two Man-of-the-Match awards against Tunisia and Mozambique.
Lookman also sits just one goal behind current top scorer and Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz, in a crowded contest for the Golden Boot. That race also includes his compatriot, Victor Osimhen, Liverpool ace Mohamed Salah, ex-Manchester City star Riyad Mahrez, and Ayoub El Kaabi.
Yet despite dominating the data and the eye test, Lookman has delivered a message that runs against the usual narrative of individual accolades.
“No. Personally, I’m just thinking about the team winning,” Lookman said at the post-match press conference.
“Now we’re in the quarter-finals, and our next opponent will be another strong team. We scored four goals against Mozambique, and it was a big performance from the team, that’s what I care about.”
Lookman’s current form represents a continuation of a steady rise in his AFCON influence. At the 2023 tournament in Ivory Coast, he scored three goals and was named in the Team of the Tournament, finishing level with William Troost-Ekong, who ultimately won the MVP award.
