With no Arsenal football anywhere in sight this weekend, the FA Cup served up its usual surprises with National South League outfit, Maidstone United, getting a monumental win over Ipswich Town from the Championship. Everton lost at home to Luton Town and Fulham made it back to back domestic cup exits after losing to Newcastle United. There was also time for Joao Pedro to score his umpteenth penalty for Brighton in their resounding win over Sheffield United.
While Elneny’s Egypt barely made it out of their group, setting themselves up for a clash with Congo Dr, Tomiyasu’s Japan have a date with Bahrain in the Round of 16 and one would expect both sides to make it to the quarterfinals.
One nation assured of a quarterfinal berth is my country, Nigeria, following an inspired performance from Atalanta’s journeyman pacey forward, Ademola Lookman. Since the start of the tournament, Lookman has been one of the bright sparks of the Super Eagles team, and his off the ball movement was a constant thorn in the flesh of the Cameroonian defenders.
Lookman actually came into this competition in blistering form, scoring three goals in his last four games for Atalanta, making his overall tally for the campaign to seven, and the Orobici are certainly missing their prized asset that continues to tear it up in Ivory Coast.
Massive credit will have to go to the African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen, that showed a lot of grit, strength and determination to nick the ball off the Cameroonian defender, win the battle adhoc sumo wrestling contest before teeing the ball to Lookman that somehow crept past the goalie, Fabrice Ondoa, into the net, despite the best efforts of Castellato to clear it out. If it was Andre Onana in goal, the vultures and trolls would have been out in full force, as it looked like an Onana type of goal to concede.
Lookman helped his nation seal qualification to the next round late on, when he latched onto Fulham’s Calvin Bassey dinked cross at the edge of the six yard box, to place the ball home from point blank range, sending the Nigerian fans to delirium.
Sometimes, all you gotta actually do it Look, and boy, did Lookman turn it up for the mandem.
Sayonara
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