Photo: Ademola Lookman walks off with a Super Eagles medic during Friday's match in Uyo — Complete Sports
Ademola Lookman has been ruled out of Nigeria's 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying return match against Tanzania in Zanzibar on Tuesday, after a scan revealed he sprained a knee ligament in Friday's 3-1 win in Uyo.
Lookman set up Alhassan Yusuf's second-minute opener at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, but he went down without contact late in the first half and was replaced by Moses Simon.
- A scan has shown Lookman sprained a knee ligament in Friday's 3-1 win over Tanzania
- He is ruled out of Tuesday's return fixture in Zanzibar and out of the travelling squad
- Nigeria are second in Group L on six points, one behind Guinea-Bissau
What the Super Eagles said about Lookman's knee
"Scan has revealed Ademola Lookman suffered a sprain in his knee ligament during yesterday's match. This rules him out of Nigeria's next AFCON qualifier versus Tanzania in Zanzibar on Tuesday," Super Eagles media officer Promise Efoghe confirmed in a statement on Saturday.
Lookman is now expected to return to his club, Atletico Madrid, for further assessment and treatment. AllNigeriaSoccer.com independently reported the same scan verdict, adding that he will be left out of the travelling squad and so will not make his 47th appearance for Nigeria in Zanzibar.
What happens next for the Super Eagles
The rest of the squad held a recovery session on Saturday, a day after the Uyo win, and are scheduled to depart for Zanzibar on Sunday ahead of Tuesday's crucial return fixture.
Nigeria sit second in Group L on six points, one behind leaders Guinea-Bissau. Tanzania have already qualified as co-hosts, so the group's one remaining ticket is a fight between Nigeria, Guinea-Bissau and Madagascar — and head coach Eric Chelle must now find a way to win in Zanzibar without one of his main attacking threats, on top of the already-absent Victor Osimhen.
Read also: https://newstweetnaija.com/post/super-eagles-chelle-says-uyo-win-is-nothing-lookman-doubtful-for-zanzibar-return">Super Eagles: Chelle Says Uyo Win Is Nothing, Lookman Doubtful for Zanzibar Return
Sources: Complete Sports; AllNigeriaSoccer.com. Follow @newstweetnaija for more.
