Chukwueze, Lookman others hit top gears for AFCON 2025

Seventeen days to the start of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Nigerian players are gradually hitting top gear, giving a boost to the country’s ambition of winning a fourth AFCON title after successes in 1980, 1994 and 2013, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

For a country whose football-mad population has endured an ill-fated 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign, failing to reach the biggest stage of world football for a second consecutive time, tasking the players to win the AFCON for a fourth time won’t be too much to ask for, and the current forms of the following players would be pivotal:

Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham)

In just over a week, Chukwueze has moved from a bench warmer to a marquee signing at Fulham, justifying why the Cottagers brought him on loan from AC Milan with an obligation to buy for €25m.

The 26-year-old has contributed four goals in his last three games for the club, including two super strikes against Manchester City on Tuesday, as well as two assists in the games against Tottenham and Sunday.

Before he grabbed his chance with an assist for their match-winner against Sunday on November 22, he had featured in only five EPL matches – all as substitutes, and he played 108 of a possible 450 minutes in those matches.

A week later, he earned his first start under Marco Silva and rewarded the coach with another assist and the EPL Player of the Match Award, following their 2-1 win at Spurs.

For tactical reasons, he was left on the bench for Man City’s visit on Tuesday, but again proved important with two goals, which almost forced a comeback in their 5-4 defeat at Craven Cottage.

In seven games, Chukwueze now has two goals and three assists for the club, with at least two more assignments against Crystal Palace at home and Burnley at Turf Moor, before he would be released for the AFCON.

For most of his six-year-old national team career, Chukwueze has been maligned for a lack of consistency. Barring an injury, a solid outing for Nigeria in Morocco will overshadow that and cement his place in the heart of Nigerians, as the team hopes to soar again.

Ademola Lookman (Atalanta)

The 2024 African Player of The Year has endured a tough year with the Super Eagles, failing to score in 10 appearances in 2025.

But it seems the Nigerian is gradually stepping out of his shadow, scoring in back-to-back games for the first time since May last weekend. Lookman was on target in Atalanta’s 2-0 win over Fiorentina on Sunday, helping them to their first league victory in five games.

Last week, he was also on song in the UEFA Champions League, scoring one and assisting another in their 3-0 win at Frankfurt.

Before rediscovering his goalscoring form, Lookman’s season has been plagued by the transfer debacle he had with Atalanta during the summer.

Now, the 28-year-old is stacking up more minutes for Atalanta this season, and the AFCON will be a perfect breather for him as his fate in the January transfer window still remains to be seen.

Before he arrives at the Super Eagles camp, which opens in Egypt next Wednesday, he could have at least four defining moments with Atalanta in their next matches, beginning with the Coppa Italia clash against Genoa on Wednesday, followed by Verona in the league on Saturday, Chelsea in the Champions League next Tuesday and Cagliari on Saturday, December 13.

Maduka Okoye (Udinese)

Just like someone who’s been to hell and back, Okoye is used to name-calling in the national team, and he is currently in contention for the Super Eagles’ number one spot again.

Whether Okoye is better than the current number one, Stanley Nwabali, is a running debate, and the Udinese goalkeeper is providing answers with his form at club level.

Since returning from suspension in October, he has made seven Serie A appearances for Udinese, keeping seven clean sheets and making 18 saves. His save percentage is put at 62.1 per cent by Flashscore.

Aside from open play saves, the 26-year-old also proved he could be reliable in more deadly situations as well, as he saved a penalty against Bologna in the Serie A recently.

His rival, Nwabali, who plays for Chippa United in South Africa, for much of his criticism over reckless antics and mistakes, is also good with penalties. He recently saved two against DR Congo in the 2026 World Cup African play-off final.

But he has not been included in Chippa United’s squad in their last two games, with no explanations yet about his availability.

Nwabali has two clean sheets in 11 games with a save percentage of 56.8 per cent.

Since his blunder against Tunisia 2021 AFCON, which was played in January 2022 in Cameroon, Okoye has only made one appearance for the Super Eagles. It’s been Nwabali’s show for almost two years as well, but their current forms will tell a lot when the team’s camp opens in Egypt next Wednesday.

Semi Ajayi (Hull City)

The most consistent among the Super Eagles at the last edition of the tournament in Ivory Coast, Ajayi is also hitting the right notes before the team heads to Morocco this year.

At 32, he has had his struggles with injury this season but has been featuring for Hull City since recovering fully in September.

He scored his first goal of the season and was named Man of The Match last weekend at Stoke and his club, realising his importance, are trying to keep him till December 14, allowing him remain with the club until after the Tigers’ trip to Millwall.

With Benjamin Fredrick out injured, Ajayi could well play an important role in Nigeria’s quest for a fourth AFCON title.