Lookman’s Goal Sends Atletico to UCL Semis — and a Date With Arsenal

Ademola Lookman is going to the Champions League semifinals. His decisive strike in the second leg completed Atletico Madrid’s 3-2 aggregate victory over Barcelona on Tuesday — and now he faces Arsenal, and four players of Nigerian heritage on the other side.

Lookman scored the goal that mattered. Marcos Llorente pulled it back from the flank and the Super Eagles winger finished it — calm, first time, clinical. Diego Simeone valued him at “€35 million and worth every penny” after the game.

Atletico host the first semifinal leg at the Metropolitano before the return at the Emirates. The other semifinal — Bayern Munich vs PSG — rounds out the last four.

For Nigeria, it is a strange crossroads. Lookman wears the green and white. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke — all Nigerian-heritage, all chosen for England — line up on the other side. One tie. Four Nigerians. Only one side can advance.