Ademola Lookman scored one and assisted another goal as Atalanta ended the 2023/24 Serie A season with a 3-2 home defeat against Fiorentina on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman has been named in coach Finidi George’s 23-man squad to face South Africa and Benin Republic in two crucial World Cup qualifiers on Friday and next Monday respectively, but his arrival to the budding Eagles camp in Uyo was delayed by his club for the Fiorentina game.
Six minutes after Andrea Belotti opened scoring for the visitors, Lookman scored the equaliser for Atalanta and also provided their second goal for Giorgio Scalviniin the 32nd minute to make it 2-2.
Belotti completed his brace on the stroke of halftime as the visitors ran out 3-2 winners to complete the double over the Europa League winners.
Lookman and Atalanta had nothing to worry about having done enough in the league to secure qualification for the Champions League next season albeit winning the Europa League.
The 26-year-old Lookman, who scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final against the unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen enjoyed a stellar campaign with Atalanta, ending the season with 17 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
He is expected to join the Super Eagles in Uyo on Monday (today) as they intensify preparations for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria will face South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Friday, June 7 before travelling to Ivory Coast to face Benin Republic on Monday, June 10.
The Eagles are third in the 2026 World Cup qualifying group with two points from two matches and need to win both games to get their campaign back on track.
Written by Nelson Adegbola
