One Goal In Seven Games: Should Eric Chelle Worry Over Lookman’S Poor Form?

There was a time when Ademola Lookman’s name struck fear into the hearts of defenders and made them check their defensive shape twice.

The story seems to have changed lately. The former African Footballer of the Year is currently out of form, with just one goal in seven appearances for Atlético Madrid this season.

Lookman’s drought is fast becoming a major talking point in the local media, and Super Eagles fans are worried and wondering if Eric Chelle should be worried too.

Chelle’sAFCONQualifiersList:LookmanUnsurprisinglyMakestheCut

Reading the list of List of invited players players for the upcoming 2027 AFCON qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau, it appears form alone is not the only yardstick for an invitation, because Lookman is in the squad despite a slow start to the season.

Well, honestly, it would have been a shock if the former Atalanta forward wasn’t invited, because his track record in Nigerian colours is nothing short of brilliant. However, judging by his current form, Lookman has a lot to prove in training sessions to earn a spot in Chelle’s starting XI against Madagascar.

Samuel Chukwueze, George Ilenikhena, Tolu Arokodare and Victor Osimhen have all been involved in more goals than the Atlético Madrid forward this season.

Osimhen has six goals and two assists in four Süper Lig games, Arokodare has five goals and two assists in seven appearances for Ajax, and Ilenikhena has four goals and two assists in the Saudi Pro League, while Chukwueze provided two assists in his first three Serie A appearances for AC Milan.

OneGoalinSeven: WhatIsActuallyGoingOn?

Lookman has scored once in seven appearances for Atlético this season and heads into Sunday’s Madrid derby against Real Madrid without a goal in four straight games. His only strike came on August 29 in the 3-1 win over Sevilla.

While his goal drought is cause for alarm, it’s fair to admit that he has spent part of the season playing in an unfamiliar position.

Lookman was thrown in as a centre-forward for Atlético’s first two league games, following Antoine Griezmann’s departure and with the future of Julián Álvarez unclear.

Simeone has since admitted that the tactical switch was ineffective and that using him as a false nine wasn’t the right call. The winger was moved back to his favoured left side for the Sevilla game, where he scored.

WhytheSuperEaglesNeedHim

Lookman isn’t just another player in the team; he is an integral part of Eric Chelle’s plans, having scored 11 goals for Nigeria.

At the 2025 tournament in Morocco, he opened the scoring and then turned provider in the 4-0 win over Mozambique, setting up two goals for Osimhen.

Thanks to his three goals and four assists, the West African giants went on to finish third. They lost to hosts Morocco on penalties in the semi-final, then beat Egypt in a shootout in the third-place match, with Lookman scoring the winning penalty.

With Osimhen’s inclusion and Tolu Arokodare’s impressive goalscoring form, the Super Eagles need a player like Lookman who can create chances from the flank and score them when required.

SimeoneIsNotPanicking

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s derby at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, Diego Simeone wasn’t losing sleep over Lookman’s form. Instead, he praised his quality and hoped he would deliver against José Mourinho’s men.

“He’s a player with a profile we don’t often have. He’s the most unpredictable in one-on-one situations on the edge of the box.”

Though Lookman’s start to the season is not the one the player wanted, Simeone added that Atlético need him whether he plays 60 minutes, 70 minutes or however long he is on the pitch.

ShouldEricChelleWorry?

Eric Chelle should be concerned, not worried, because Lookman’s slow start is tactical rather than technical.

Simeone is fully behind him, and his record for Nigeria is too good to ignore because of seven games at the start of a season.

Form is temporary, class is permanent, and Lookman is in a class of his own. Chelle should let him play on the left, where he is happiest, and let him show his quality, pace and directness against Madagascar in Uyo.

Italoye Ibukun