By Wale Mustapha
Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman says Atalanta’s 2–1 victory over AS Roma on Monday night reflects the team’s strength and determination as they secured Champions League qualification for next season.
Lookman scored one of the goals for Gian Piero Gasperini’s side in the Matchday 36 clash, ending a personal goal drought that had lasted nearly 10 games.
The win ensures Atalanta’s place in Europe’s top competition for the 2024/25 season.
“It’s a great feeling. We knew the importance of the game today to qualify for the Champions League. We put in a performance tonight that was deserving of that,” Lookman told DAZN after the match.
“I try to be available whenever I can, so that’s important. I try to give my best. The team showed we are strong. There are two more games, and we want to finish with as many points as possible.”
Atalanta will now shift focus to their final Serie A fixtures as they look to close the season on a high.
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.
