By Monsurah Olatunji
Lazio manager Marco Baroni has provided clarity on his decision to substitute Nigerian midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru at halftime during his side’s 2-0 loss to AS Roma in their Serie A derby.
Dele-Bashiru, who was making only his sixth start of the Serie A season, struggled to make an impact in the first half, which prompted Baroni to make two substitutions at the break. Alongside Dele-Bashiru, Gustav Isaksen was also replaced as Boulaye Dia and Loum Tchaouna came on for the second half.
Speaking after the game, Baroni addressed his controversial decision, explaining that Dele-Bashiru still needs to refine his ability to control the ball and contribute effectively between the lines.
“Dele-Bashiru is still learning the position and how to control the ball between the lines. We are also missing Matias Vecino for a long time, but that must not be an excuse,” Baroni said, according to DAZN.
The manager also emphasized the importance of improving the existing squad while they continue to look for reinforcements.
“The club and director are looking around, but we are also at the same time trying to improve the players we have,” Baroni added.
Despite the defeat, Baroni praised his team’s tactical identity in the second half, though he lamented the two avoidable goals that sealed the loss.
Dele-Bashiru, who has scored two goals this season, will hope to bounce back with stronger performances, like the one against Atalanta where he impressed during Lazio’s 1-1 home draw.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
