Ademola Lookman could make a timely return for Atlético Madrid this Saturday in their La Liga clash against Athletic Bilbao, after sitting out the recent trip to Elche CF due to injury concerns.
Head coach Diego Simeone confirmed the Nigerian forward is recovering well after experiencing discomfort in his abductor during last weekend’s Copa del Rey Final.
Lookman has been undergoing individual training sessions as part of his rehabilitation and was excluded from the squad that faced Elche as a precaution.
Simeone expressed optimism about his availability, stating: “It’s possible that both Sorloth and Lookman will already be available on Saturday, based on what the doctors are saying.”
Atlético’s medical team is taking a cautious approach to ensure the forward regains full match fitness ahead of a crucial UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg tie against Arsenal FC next Wednesday.
With their campaign spanning domestic and European competitions, Atlético are eager to have Lookman back in contention as they prepare for a defining stretch of the season.
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.
