By Olaitan Ibrahim
Fresh from his triumph at the 2024 CAF Awards, newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, paid a courtesy visit to President Bola Tinubu in Lagos on Friday.
Lookman, who clinched the prestigious continental honour following his electrifying performances for Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Italian club Atalanta, was accompanied by the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko.
The visit was marked by warm conversations and national pride, as the President congratulated Lookman for bringing glory to Nigeria and reaffirmed his administration’s support for the development of sports across the country.
The 26-year-old football star became a national sensation after his historic hat-trick led Atalanta to their first-ever UEFA Europa League title in 2024, followed by a stellar AFCON campaign with Nigeria, where he scored crucial goals in the knockout stages.
Lookman’s visit comes at a time when the Nigerian government is intensifying efforts to revamp grassroots sports development and reposition the country as a powerhouse in international football.