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A new book chronicling the inspiring journey of Nigerian football star Ademola Lookman is set for release later this year. Written by syndicated writer Steve Ogah, Lookman’s Life of Pain and Power traces the dramatic transformation of the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of the Year from early struggles in English club football to continental glory.
Described by the author as “an extraordinary tale of failure and fortune, of grit and grace,” the book captures Lookman’s rise from rejection to redemption — a story of “promise, pain, and then power.” Ogah recounts how the Atalanta forward, once dismissed as a struggling prospect in England, vowed never to let failure define him: “I will not let one failure hold me back.”
Speaking on the forthcoming publication, Ogah said:
“Lookman’s professional journey mirrors remarkable perseverance, and the power of his positive mindset deserves abundant endorsement from public intellectuals. It is hoped that this book will stand as a celebration of Lookman’s inspiring rise in world football — a model worthy of generous emulation.”
The book builds on Ogah’s long-standing engagement with Lookman’s career, drawn from years of analytical articles and personal reflections. According to the author, Lookman’s Life of Pain and Power aims to inspire readers — especially young people and those facing adversity — to find strength in persistence and optimism. “It was conceived in hopes that it will inspire the downtrodden to rise out of their deepest darkness to the brightness of victory,” he said.
Steve Ogah is an accomplished journalist and author whose works have been featured in leading international media outlets, including New York Beacon (USA), The Daily Scrum News (Canada), The African Magazine (USA), The African Courier (Germany), Black History Month (UK), African Briefing (London), and Sahara Reporters (New York).
A fellow of the British Council/Lancaster University’s Crossing Borders online writing program and a UEFA-accredited sportswriter for the Women’s Champions League Final in Torino (2022), Ogah has also published The African New Yorker and was longlisted for the Wakini Kuria Award by the African Writers Development Trust in 2020.
With Lookman’s Life of Pain and Power, Ogah offers not just a sports biography but an inspiring human story of resilience — one that resonates far beyond the football pitch.
