By Monsurah Olatunji
Atalanta head coach Gian Piero Gasperini has praised Ademola Lookman for his defensive efforts during their 0-0 draw against Udinese, a result that marked the first time since October 26, 2024, in their Champions League match against Celtic, that Atalanta failed to score.
Despite a relatively quiet performance where he was effectively neutralized throughout the game, Lookman’s defensive work did not go unnoticed.
The reigning African Player of the Year was one of the most active players statistically, contributing defensively before being substituted in the 62nd minute.
Gasperini highlighted Lookman’s sacrifice and commitment, especially in a match where Atalanta struggled to break down a physically strong Udinese side that posed significant challenges.
“I am satisfied with the sacrifice of Lookman and De Ketelaere. They tried to do their best, even in defence,” Gasperini said, as reported by Eurosport.
“There are no criticisms to make about the commitment. We found a physical team that put us in difficulty.”
The draw dropped Atalanta from their second-place position in Serie A, but Gasperini’s recognition of Lookman’s defensive contributions demonstrates the importance of his all-around play, even in matches where attacking opportunities were limited.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
