How Osimhen, Lookman captivated Africa in last two seasons

Super Eagles forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman are proving their status as Africa’s elite with scintillating performances in Europe this season, as the Nigerian duo continue to justify the country’s back-to-back CAF African Footballer of The Year awards, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The pair have lit up European football this term, contributing 21 goals and 10 assists in just 33 appearances combined, cementing their positions among the continent’s most lethal attackers.

Osimhen has transformed Turkish giants Galatasaray into Europe’s only unbeaten team across domestic leagues, cup competitions, and European tournaments among the top eight ranked leagues, netting 10 goals and providing five assists in 14 appearances.

The 25-year-old striker’s impact has been immediate in Turkey, with seven goals in 10 Süper Lig matches and three goals plus two assists in four Europa League appearances, helping Galatasaray establish a six-point lead at the top of the Turkish league with 38 points from 14 matches.

His goal-scoring exploits have been crucial in maintaining Galatasaray’s 17-game unbeaten streak across all competitions. In their 3-2 triumph over Tottenham, Osimhen scored twice, while his vital strike against AZ Alkmaar rescued a point after the Turkish side conceded early.

The striker’s domestic form has been equally impressive, with a brace in a 3-2 win over Samsunspor, the winning goal in a 2-1 victory against Besiktas, and another double in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Kasimpasa underlining his importance to the team’s success.

Meanwhile, Lookman has continued his meteoric rise at Serie A leaders Atalanta, registering 11 goals and five assists in 19 appearances across all competitions this season, including eight goals and four assists in 13 Serie A matches.

The 27-year-old’s journey to the pinnacle of African football is a testament to perseverance and self-belief. After spells in England and Germany that promised much but delivered inconsistently, it was in Italy where he finally found his true calling.

His transformation since joining Atalanta for €10m from RB Leipzig in 2022 has been remarkable. In his first season, he contributed 13 goals and eight assists in 31 league appearances, following that up with 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 games across competitions in 2023/24.

The crowning moment of his career came in Dublin in May when he scored a historic hat-trick in Atalanta’s Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen, becoming only the sixth player to achieve this feat in a European final and the first African to do so.

His stellar performances have attracted interest from European giants including Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, Arsenal and Real Madrid, though the forward appears content continuing his development in Bergamo.

Osimhen’s impact at Galatasaray has similarly caught the attention of Europe’s elite clubs. Manchester United have made a fresh approach as they seek to bolster their attacking options, while Juventus appear to be leading the race for his signature.

The striker’s situation is complicated by his €75m release clause and current loan arrangement with Galatasaray, which includes a January break clause that could facilitate a mid-season move.

Their parallel rise to prominence marks the third time Nigeria has produced back-to-back African Footballers of the Year, cementing the country’s status as a powerhouse of African football talent.

Lookman’s triumph in Morocco made him the seventh Nigerian to win the prestigious award, following in the footsteps of Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Osimhen (2023).

As both players enter their prime years – Osimhen at 25 and Lookman at 27 – their scintillating form could prove crucial to Nigeria’s quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title and a qualification for the 2026 World Cup after missing out on the Qatar edition.