Nigeria’s The attacking pair, Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze, have been listed among the top 50 dribblers in the Italian Serie A for the current 2024/25 season, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.
Based on data released by Euro Football Rumours, Lookman and Chukwueze stand out as the sole Nigerian international athletes included in this compilation. The rankings are determined by counting each player's total successful dribbles in Serie A, Italy's premier soccer league.
Lookman, the Atalanta wide midfielder, tops the list for Nigerian footballers with his impressive tally of 27 successful dribbles across 23 league matches. This averages out to approximately 1.2 dribbles per match, which places him at number 22 in Serie A’s rankings for leading dribblers overall.
Nonetheless, the ex-Everton player, who leads Serie A in ratings, hasn’t merely been a stylish dribbler; he has also produced remarkable offensive stats. Boasting 13 goals and five assists, Lookman has emerged as one of the top attacking forces in Serie A this campaign.
In the meantime, Chukwueze of AC Milan ranks 40th overall with 20 successful dribbles under his belt. This spot is shared by Frank Anguisa from Napoli, MartÃn Payero from Udinese, Tommaso Augello from Cagliari, and Warren Bondo from Monza.
Noteworthy is Chukwueze’s performance considering he hasn’t had extensive playing time. At 24 years old, he has participated in 21 Serie A games with only nine starts, accumulating a total of 796 minutes on the field for Milan.
Even though he faces challenges securing consistent playing time, Chukwueze’s proficiency with the ball stands out, as he manages an average of 2.2 successful dribbles every 90 minutes.
Nevertheless, his inconsistent playing time has impacted his total impact, as the Nigerian forward has managed only three league goals for the season.
On top of the dribbling leaderboard, Como’s Nico Paz takes the lead with 57 successful dribbles, trailed by AC Milan’s Rafael Leão (50), Venezia’s Gaetano Oristanio (48), Juventus’ Kenan Yildiz (45), and Lazio’s Nuno Tavares (44).
Lookman and Chukwueze will now turn their attention to representing Nigeria internationally as they aim to showcase their skillful ball control during the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches.
Both athletes have made it into the Super Eagles roster for the forthcoming matches versus Rwanda and Zimbabwe, and they have already linked up with the team at their training camp in Kigali.
As Nigeria prepares to compete against Rwanda at the Amahoro Stadium on March 21, with another match against Zimbabwe scheduled for four days after, Lookman is anticipated to play a crucial role in the team’s offensive strategy. Given his recent performances with his club, he appears nearly certain to start under the guidance of Franco-Malian coach Eric Chelle.
On the contrary, Chukwueze might end up as a substitute because of his difficulties at AC Milan, facing tough competition for offensive positions within the Nigerian national team.
Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. Syndigate.info ).
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