Ademola Lookman scored in Atalanta’s 2-0 home win against Fiorentina in the Serie A on Sunday.
Lookman has now scored in back-to-back matches for the former Europa League champions.
The Super Eagles star was also on target in Atalanta’s 3-0 win away to Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League in midweek.
He has bagged two goals in eight appearances in the Italian top division this current campaign.
In Sunday’s fixture Lookman got on the score sheet in the 51st minute to double hia side’s lead.
Cote d’Ivoire’s Odilon Kossounou had broken the deadlock with four minutes left in the first half.
Also Read: Lookman: I’m Ready To Fight For Atalanta
With the victory Atalanta climb to 11th position on 16 points in the league table.
Lookman’s current form would be good news for the Super Eagles coaching crew ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
The 2024 African Player of the Year did not have a good outing for Nigeria at the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs, as he struggled against Gabon and DR Congo.
He was substituted in both matches as the Super Eagles failed to pick the Intercontinental playoffs ticket after losing on penalties to DR Congo in the final.
By James Agberebi
2 Comments
Yes, Lookman did have a torrid time in the world cup qualifiers however that is all in the past.
Talking about the world cup, we Super Eagles fans might actually see Nigeria participate in a world cup next year.
Notice I say a world cup, more of that later. On Lookman, I don’t see a wider placed wing position suits Lookman.
Lookman was at the right place at the right time to score 2 goals for Atalanta in as many games. Cutting in and being located closer to the 18 yard box seems to bring out the best in him, the best that we hope to see in the Afcon and the world cup next year.
World cup?
Well Russia are reportedly planning to host an alternate world cup next year entitled “World Cup for the Excluded” which will take place exactly the same time as the real world cup and probably also take place in the United States of America.
According to reports, Russia has reached out to federations from Serbia, Greece, Chile, Peru, Venezuela, Nigeria, Cameroon, and China regarding participation.
However, despite the intrigue, major challenges remain, as there is no confirmation from the RFU yet. What’s more, there’s no guarantee these nations will participate. In addition, there are the FIFA-related legitimacy questions and the likely scheduling conflicts with the actual World Cup.
All that said, I for one would only be too happy for such a tournament to actually materialise. It will keep the Super Eagles busy and help prepare the team with hopefully fresher legs for future tournaments. Additionally it will give me something to look forward to.
But some fans will outright hate the idea and denounce Nigeria’s participation. Whereas other African teams will be participating in the real elite world cup tournament, it will be seen as a team of shame and humiliation for a whole Nigeria, a whole Super Eagles to be participating in a pseudo fake world cup.
Well, each to their own!
Far ftam the shackles of NFF ONIGBESE AKA THE CHRONIC DEBTORS, Liokman is relishing the comforts and convenience his club offers him. Just take a look at the eyesore of a hotel the SE were lodged in for the playoffs, and right there you have a big reason why the lads underperformed. Not to mention owed bonuses!
We missed Aina, but I doubt he would’ve made that much difference. DRC however were missing their own Osimhen, Yoanne Wissa. With him available, ir likely would have been even more difficult for us. The SE failed to take advantage of Wissa’s absence, thanks largely to NFF gross negligence and incompetence. Now, Wissa still has a chance to go to the world cup. Osihmem, Lookman and their comrades will be watching it on TV. I hear there are good deals for extra large flat screen TVs currently at KASHIMAWO MARKET. SE players might as well go shopping.