Lookman ends 2023 with match-winner for Atalanta vs Leece
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman will end the year 2023 on a high after scoring the winning goal for Atalanta in their 1-0 win over Lecce on Saturday, December 30.
Lookman was named in Nigeria’s 25-man squad for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on Friday, and marked his first game since the squad unveiling with an important goal to bag all three points for his team in the Italian Serie A.
That was Atalanta’s final game of the year at a parked Gewiss Stadium.
Atalanta Coach Gian Piero Gasperini paired the Nigerian International in attack alongside Gianluca Scamacca.
In a closely fought game, Atalanta edged the details, bossing possession and creating the best chances but failing to score in the first half.
The second half was different, La Dea became more purposeful , and eventually got due reward with a goal in the 58th minute from the boot of AFCON-bound Ademola Lookman.
Lookman took a pass from his strike partner, Scamacca at the edge of the opposition penalty area, danced past few Leece bodies to create space before firing a low shot into the net for what was the match-winner.
Super Eagles manager, Jose Peseiro will definitely be delighted to have one of his best legs hit camp on a high note, with the Eagles expected to gather in UAE for a mini tournament before heading to Ivory Coast for the Nations Cup which gets underway on January 13, 2024.