Ademola Lookman for Atletico Madrid. Copyright: Imago
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman is expected to feature for Atletico Madrid as they face Real Sociedad in the Spanish Copa del Rey final this Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Nigerian star has been a standout performer for Los Rojiblancos, and he will be eager to lead his side to victory against the Txuri-Urdin.
Should he succeed, he will become the first Nigerian player to win the Copa del Rey since Emmanuel Amunike achieved the feat in 1997.
Conversely, if Atletico Madrid falls short, Lookman will become the first Super Eagles player since Finidi George to earn a runners-up medal in the competition.
Meanwhile, Real Sociedad will be desperate to snap their ten-game winless streak against Atletico Madrid at the Estadio de la Cartuja. In their last ten encounters, Diego Simeone’s men have secured five wins and five draws, suggesting a hard-fought battle lies ahead.
While Real Sociedad does not currently have a Nigerian on their active roster, there is a strong possibility that a Nigerian striker will receive a gold medal should they manage to defeat Atleti.
The Super Eagles Star Who Could Earn Gold via a Real Sociedad Victory
The player in question is Sadiq Umar. Although he moved to Valencia during the January transfer window, he was an integral part of the Real Sociedad squad for the first half of the season.
Before his departure, Sadiq featured regularly for Real Sociedad in the Copa del Rey, contributing a vital goal during their campaign.
According to competition regulations, winning teams are allocated 40 medals for players and staff. Given that Sadiq played in two of the club’s six matches leading up to the final, he remains eligible to receive a winner’s medal.
On a different front, Sadiq is currently embroiled in a relegation scrap with Valencia. The club sits 14th in La Liga with 35 points from 31 games—just three points above the drop zone. With only seven games remaining, they must avoid dropping points to secure their top-flight status.