Babayaro hails Lookman's parents for raising ‘a true champion’
Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medalist Emmanuel Babayaro has lavished praise on Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman — and in a touching tribute, extended his admiration beyond the player himself to
Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold medalist Emmanuel Babayaro has lavished praise on Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman — and in a touching tribute, extended his admiration beyond the player himself to the family that shaped him.
Speaking on the ATHLST podcast, Babayaro said he admires Lookman not just for his exploits on the pitch, but for the discipline, humility and professionalism he carries off it.
"Ademola Lookman is one young man I honestly admire. And it's not just about his playing; it's about his comportment, and all these things sum up to one thing for me — they say charity begins at home," Babayaro, a soccer gold medal from the Atlanta 1996 Olympics, said.
"I want to use this opportunity to say thank you to the parents of Ademola Lookman because they did a great job with that young man. The Yoruba people are well known for respect and ethics, and his parents did a great job raising him."
Lookman, now dazzling for Atlético Madrid, has become one of Nigeria's most celebrated forwards — winning the African Footballer of the Year award in 2024 and helping the Super Eagles claim silver and bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations.
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Yet the road to the top was far from smooth. During his time at Everton in the Premier League, Lookman struggled to make an impact, scoring just four goals in 48 appearances before being shipped out on loan to RB Leipzig. Babayaro believes Lookman's fluid, creative style was poorly suited to the demands of English football.
"When you consider how he did not perform in England and then went on to work wonders in other parts of the world, do you think his style of play was probably part of the reason why he never really fitted in the United Kingdom?" Babayaro posed.
"Lookman likes to play with ease and style. He likes to play without too much pressure. He has that creativity — give him the ball and he's able to do things. But in England, you have microseconds before something happens. A lot of times, the pressure is on you to release the ball."
That freedom to express himself found in Europe has allowed Lookman to flourish. In a career spanning Charlton Athletic, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, Atalanta and now Atlético Madrid — 345 professional appearances in total — he has never once been sent off, a testament to the character Babayaro so openly admires.
