Samuel Eto’o shows solidarity with Ademola Lookman amid Gasperini fallout

By Monsurah Olatunji

Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o has publicly voiced his support for Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman following his fallout with Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini.

Atalanta’s disappointing UEFA Champions League campaign ended with a 5-2 aggregate loss to Club Brugge in the elimination playoff, which left them narrowly missing out on automatic progression to the Round of 16.

Following the defeat, Lookman found himself at the center of controversy after Gasperini criticized him for missing a penalty during the second leg, calling him “one of the worst penalty takers” he had ever seen.

In a match where Atalanta was already trailing 2-1 from the first leg and 3-0 at home, Lookman’s penalty miss during a brief comeback attempt added to the frustration.

Gasperini’s public remarks sparked a fierce reaction from Lookman, who expressed his displeasure, calling the comments “disrespectful” and revealing his frustration at being singled out for blame.

Amid the fallout, Eto’o, the reigning African Player of the Year and president of the Cameroon Football Association, took to Instagram to show support for Lookman.

Eto’o praised the Nigerian forward for his courage and resilience, emphasizing that only those brave enough to take a shot can miss.

“My young brother, memory in football lasts 90 minutes, the time of a match, and then it’s on to the next,” Eto’o wrote.

“For us, you are and will always be our champion. Only those who have the courage to take the shot can miss. Thank you for your courage, great champion.”

Eto’o’s powerful message of support has resonated with many, highlighting the importance of backing players through tough moments.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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