Lookman backs teammates to cope in his absence; gives Atalanta parting gift before jetting off to AFCON
Published: December 30, 2023
Ademola Lookman is backing his Atalanta teammates to do well without him while he's away on international duty with the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2017 Fifa U20 World Cup winner with England is set to represent Nigeria in his first major tournament, having been named in the final squad for the Africa Cup of Nations.
In his farewell game before linking up with the Nigeria squad at their training camp in Abu Dhabi, capital city of the United Arab Emirates, Lookman signed off in style by scoring the game-winning goal in Atalanta's 1-0 win over Lecce on matchday 18 of the Serie A.
As the match edged towards the hour mark, Lookman gave Atalanta the perfect parting gift before jetting off to the Africa Cup of Nations with the Nigeria squad when he scored with a a low angled diagonal shot into the bottom corner.
Five minutes from time, Lookman - Atalanta's top scorer this season with seven goals - came close to doubling the advantage but was denied by Lecce goalkeeper Wladimiro Falcone.
Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini admitted after the game at the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo that he was worried about Lookman's imminent absence.
Speaking to DAZN, via Tuttomercatoweb , Lookman said: 'We have a good team, with strong players.
"I will go to the African Cup but my teammates will do an excellent job, I have faith in them. Will I miss Bergamo? Yes, I can't wait to come back here."
Should Nigeria go all the way and advance to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Lookman would not be able to feature in six games on the bounce.
Ifeanyi Emmanuel
Copyright ANS
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from allnigeriasoccer.com
- Ola Aina at Wembley but misses out on Nottingham Forest matchday squad v Man City
- From Napoli to Galatasaray: Super Eagles striker Osimhen set to rewrite his own history
- Musa scores 16th of the season as Man Utd and Everton play out 8-goal thriller in U18 PL
- Igoh Ogbu: Most valuable Nigerian right-footed CB and Slavia clinch league title with 4 games to spare
- 'Hoffenheim are very annoyed' - Dortmund coach reacts to incident involving Chelsea loanee Chukwuemeka
- Super Eagles midfielder Ndidi reaches milestone as Leicester City beaten by Wolves
- Bluebirds to play in third tier: Super Eagles defender will not follow relegated Cardiff into League One
- 'Amazing to see' – Iwobi praises Saka's rise from hardworking teen to Arsenal's main man
- Getafe's Uche tops Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr and Bellingham, other La Liga stars in key offensive stat
- Nigeria international GK named in Premiere Ligue Team of the Season amid Everton links


- Football Betting
- African Players
- Australia/ Asia
- Belgian Championship
- Bundesliga
- Danish Football
- English Premier League
- Nigeria National Teams
- Casinos not on Gamstop
- Nigeria Premier League
- Norwegian Football
- Polish Football
- Russian Championship
- Serie A
- Spanish Liga
- Swedish Championship
- Transfer
- Turkish Championship
- 1Win
- Ukrainian Football
- Uncategorized
- Women's Football
- hi88
- hi88
- hi88
- hi88
- hi88