Fisayo Dele-Bashiru was on target for Lazio in their 1-1 draw with Atalanta in the Serie A on Saturday.
Ademola Lookman was also in action and provided the assist for Atalanta’s late equaliser.
Saturday’s goal was Dele-Bashiru’s second in nine games in the Serie A this season.
Also, he has taken his tally in all competitions this campaign to four goals in 14 games.
For Lookman, the reigning CAF Player of the Year, he now has five assists, nine goals in 15 games in the Italian topflight this term.
Dele-Bashiru gave Lazio the lead when he struck in the 27th minute.
But in the 88th minute Lookman set up substitute Marco Breschianini to tap into an empty net.
The draw took Atalanta, on 41 points, back to the top in the league table.
The Europa League champions are just one point above second-placed Inter Milan who thrashed Cagliari 3-0 also on Saturday.
By James Agberebi
3 Comments
The NFF must be wiping beads of relief sweat off their brows for locking in Dele Bashiru early. Let’s be honest: if we’d waited until now, with him dazzling for Lazio in Serie A and flexing his muscles in the Champions League, things could have gone south faster than a scruffy haircut turning into a designer fade overnight. Imagine trying to reconnect with someone you ghosted when they weren’t at their peak—awkward, isn’t it? But, thank goodness, this time we swiped right early.
Securing Bashiru when he was still at Hatayspor in the Turkish Super Lig was a quiet coup. It wasn’t the flashiest move back then, but today? The man is a midfield machine in one of the toughest leagues in the world. Lazio fans chant his name, Serie A defenders dread his runs, and we get to proudly call him our own. Kudos to the NFF for the foresight—it’s like finding a diamond before anyone realized it wasn’t just a shiny rock.
Now, imagine we’d waited. Picture the NFF knocking on his door today, trying to pitch the Super Eagles to a player thriving under the bright lights of Italian football. Bashiru might have looked at us, then glanced at England (where he grew up) or Germany (where he was born) and said, “Hmm, I think I’ll wait for Wembley or the Allianz Arena.” And honestly, could we blame him? England would’ve rolled out their fancy slide decks, complete with clips of Wembley goals, or Germany would have showcased their slick machine-like efficiency. We’d have been left clutching at straws—or worse, watching him wait indefinitely for a call-up that might never come.
This isn’t some far-fetched scenario either. We’ve seen it happen before. Players like Bukayo Saka and Fikayo Tomori, generational talents, chose England for understandable reasons. Their decisions deserve respect, but it doesn’t make it hurt less when we imagine what they could’ve brought to the Super Eagles. That’s why the Bashiru strategy—act early, act smart—has to be our default setting.
What makes Bashiru’s story so poetic is how he embodies the importance of timing. From a gritty box-to-box fighter at Hatayspor to a polished midfield maestro at Lazio, his evolution is proof that talent needs nurturing, not waiting. We locked him down before Europe’s big boys started hovering, and today, he’s flourishing in the Super Eagles setup, a vital cog in Peseiro’s plans.
And here’s the kicker: if Bashiru hadn’t committed to Nigeria early, there’s a chance he’d still be waiting for a nod from England or Germany that might never come. Sure, the prospect of those iconic jerseys is tempting, but international football is a game of timing. Would he have risked rotting on the fringes of eligibility when he could be dominating in a Super Eagles jersey? It’s food for thought.
So, here’s to Bashiru—a player we didn’t let slip away. And cheers to the NFF and Peseiro for sealing the deal when it mattered. This should be our mantra moving forward: no more near-misses, no more waiting for the world to validate what we already see. Bashiru’s journey is a lesson in smart, timely decisions. Let’s hope it’s the start of a trend.
He was born in Nigeria and he got relocated to the UK with his parents at the age of 2. He had always wanted to play for Nigeria. He demonstrated his love for Nigeria when him and his brother came to Nigeria u20 camp in 2019 WC. He showed his intent of wanting to play for Nigeria when he was in Turkey
when he announced publicly through one of Ayo T program on YouTube
Excellent comment @Papafem.
You and @Pompei are amongst some of my favourite commentators on this website
Thing is with Fisayo, is that with his young age and an excellent coach in Baroni, who’s too say if he’s open to learning and mastering his craft, as Lookman as done, and continues to do….he could be a future contender for APOTY.
If SE does miss out on WC26, he still has time on side for WC30
He just needs to stay away from the fast cars and keep his discipline. Lets see…