Ademola Lookman has said Atalanta proved they can compete against a team like Real Madrid after Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash.
Lookman was in superb form as he marked his impressive display by getting on the score sheet in Atalanta’s 3-2 defeat.
The Super Eagles star forward pulled a goal back for the Europa League holders after Kylian Mbappé, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, had scored for Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
He almost set up an equaliser for Atalanta with the last kick of the game, but his teammate fired over the bar.
Despite the defeat, Lookman was named Man of the Match for his performance.
“Tough game, they took their chances when they had them. We knew what type of game it would be, we were unlucky, but we have our heads held high,” Lookman told Sky Sport Italia and UEFA.com after he was named Man of the Match by UEFA.
“We are disappointed with the result because we felt we could have done more, but there is also pride. We showed that we can compete against a team full of champions. Of course, there were moments when we could have done better, but I believe that today we stood up to Real, and this is important for our growth.”
Lookman added:“We created chances, there are a lot of positives to take from the performance, but also a lot of things we can learn. It’s another great step for us today, we showed quality in moments and can learn a lot from today.”
8 Comments
Lookman’s football confidence places him above the rest players on the planet as we speak. He just needs to move unto a greater team that will take advantage of his form.
Chima E Samuels
You are so right. @Lookman is truly the best
Legend in making ademola lookmon
Spot on, @Chima. I couldn’t stop grinning with pride, watching Ademola Lookman terrorize Real Madrid’s defense like a skilled chef slicing through ripe tomatoes. The way he twisted and turned, leaving seasoned defenders like Rudiger scrambling, was pure artistry. It hit me right there—this guy is ours. A bonafide Super Eagle. And not just him; we’ve got at least three world-class players capable of making the toughest defenders in football sweat like they’re running a marathon in Sokoto. Osimhen, the quintessential No. 9 who bulldozes through defenses like a freight train, and Chukwueze, who has done unspeakable things to Real Madrid’s backline in the past. Yet, for some baffling reason, these same superstars often fail to replicate such magic for the national team. That’s a conversation for another day, though. Right now, my mind is laser-focused on something else: Lookman’s shot at winning the African Player of the Year.
If he wins, it won’t just be his victory—it’ll be a rallying cry to every Nigerian with a British accent to stop sitting on the fence or choosing other countries over us. It’ll be like shouting, “My brothers and sisters in the diaspora, the Super Eagles are your ticket to immortality!” Because let’s be honest, Lookman winning would send a shockwave so strong that foreign-born players will be googling “How to get a Nigerian passport” faster than you can say “Super Eagles.”
And then, there’s the cautionary tale of those who chose the road “most travelled”. Ebere Eze, Folarin Balogun, Fikayo Tomori, Tammy Abraham—where do we start? Great players, no doubt. But they’ve essentially signed up for a lifetime of “almosts” and “what ifs.” Eze, for instance, could have been our midfield maestro, threading passes that would make Okocha proud. Instead, he’s stuck battling for a spot in a bloated England squad where every player looks like they’ve been pre-programmed for *Euro 2024 qualifiers* and not much else.
Folarin Balogun? Oh, my dear Balogun. He ran to the U.S. as if they were going to guarantee him global stardom. Maybe they will, but unless they start hosting the AFCON in Miami, the best he can hope for is CONCACAF bragging rights. Fikayo Tomori? A rock at the back, no doubt, but he could’ve been our version of Franco Baresi – for those who know that legendary Italian star. Instead, he’s fighting for a call-up in an England team where defenders are as disposable as the Styrofoam “takeaway” packs. And Tammy Abraham? Injuries or not, he’d have had a better shot at the African crown than dreaming about displacing Harry Kane. Kane retires, and boom, here comes another wonderkid from the Championship to queue up ahead of Tammy.
Meanwhile, Lookman is out here carrying the hopes and dreams of Naija football like a warrior. At Atalanta, the man is living proof that consistency, intelligence, and some good jollof will take you places. If he clinches this award, it will be a mic-drop moment for the diaspora: “See what you’re missing?”
But let’s not stop there. Saka Bukayo—the golden boy of Arsenal—would’ve had this award on lockdown if he’d chosen Nigeria. With his skillset and flair, he could’ve been a multiple APOTY winner by now. Instead, he’s stuck playing for England, where his chances of individual glory are about as slim as finding fuel in Lagos on a Monday morning. Europe is stacked with generational talents like Mbappé and Haaland. Even Ronaldo refuses to retire! LOBATAN! Over here, Saka would’ve been king of the continent, no contest. But hey, we move.
Lookman’s potential win isn’t just about him; it’s a message to every foreign-born player with Nigerian roots: Home is where the heart—and the trophies—are. Winning African Player of the Year will show that greatness doesn’t always lie in the glitzy lights of Europe’s national teams. Sometimes, it’s in the soulful roar of 200 million Nigerians who believe football is life itself.
So, to Lookman: win this thing, and let’s rewrite history. Let your victory remind the Ezes, Baloguns, and Tomoris of this world what they’re missing. And let the Sakas of tomorrow know that greatness, true greatness, often comes wrapped in green and white. Go make us proud, Ademola. The ripple effect will be legendary.
Nice post, Papafem.
I hope Lookman wins this award. Like you said, it will be a wake up call for all our foreign born players. Playing for Nigeria can also be their path to fame.
As for the others who chose other countries ahead of Nigeria, while it’s easy to condemn them, let’s remember that many of them arrived at their decision due to NFF shenanigans.
Nonpayment of bonuses, clumsy administration, poor player welfare. It’s hard for a player who doesn’t have the love of Nigeria in his heart to chose Nigeria over a country like England, where administration is top notch, and players’ bonuses and welfare are promptly taken care of.
Most of them want to play for Nigeria in their hearts, but their heads tell them otherwise.
We were fortunate in the case of Lookman. He’s good enough to be a 3 Lions player, and would have become one if he had waited for the opportunity. But at the time, it seemed he would always be overlooked, so it made more sense to fall back to Nigeria.
We will not always be fortunate like we were with Lookman, so its imperative that we get our ducks in a row, so these players see Nigeria as an option that is more viable than other countries that might be interested in their services.
It’s up to NFF ONIGBESE to up their game, so Nigeria becomes a more attractive brand.
@Papafem
@Chima
@Pompei
@Omotayo
Really enjoyed your posts
Ademola Lookman what a gem. I hope he at least completes the season with Atalanta and not move in January
I just sense with Ademola onboard, they could
have another historic season and win Serie A for the first time and who knows what could happen in UCL.
He can leave in the Summer to one of the TOP clubs vying for the TOP trophies. But Money talks I guess, so lets see
I hope he wins APOTY on Monday Dec 16, but it wouldn’t surprise me at all if they give it to Hakimi.
He finished 2nd to Osimhen last yr and the North Africans are desperate for him to win it..
Anyway lets see…
All I really care about is the continued health and consistency for Ademola, and he and Osimhen, Simon, Chukwueze and other consistent SE performers can somehow negotiate the precarious WCQs and claim their ticket for WC2026
@ifeanyi
You are so right. Lookman is the best. He must win it for the rest.
@ifeanyi
Forget the rest bros. You are so right. Lookman is the best.