Lookman to miss Sassuolo game

Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, will miss Atalanta’s Serie A game against Sassuolo on Saturday due to an sprained ankle injury.

According to Alfredo Pedulla, Lookman who rejoined Atalanta on Wednesday suffering the injury in the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast and will not be available for selection against for the league encounter billed for the Gewiss Stadium in Bergamo, Italy.

Lookman who scored three goals and made an assist to help Nigeria to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, where they lost to hosts Ivory Coast made CAF Best XI of the AFCON alongside his compatriots, Ola Aina and William Troost-Ekong.

The 26-year-old forward scored seven goals and three assists for Atalanta before he linked up with the Nigerian squad for the AFCON tournament.

William Troost-Ekong put the Super Eagles 1-0 up before Ivory Coast equalised through Franck Kessie with an assist from Simon Adingra who also set up Sebastian Haller’s winning goal.

Meanwhile, the former RB Leipzig and Leicester City winger has assured Nigerians that the Eagles will bounce back from their final 2-1 loss against Ivory Coast in the final of the AFCON.

Lookman gave this assurance on his X page on Friday.

We fell short but we gave everything and we will be back,” Lookman wrote.

“Thank you for all the love and support, always grateful for the fans.”

Lookman also praised hosts, Ivory Coast for their remarkable comeback and Haller for being an inspiration.

Ivory Coast who were on the verge of exiting the tournament after losing their last two group games secured a third AFCON title at the expense of Nigeria courtesy of a winning goal scored by Sebastian Haller, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in July 2022.

He added, “Congratulations to the hosts, Ivory Coast and Sebastian Haller, you are an inspiration to all. God bless Naija.