Nigerian stars clash in Serie A

Super Eagles duo Ademola Lookman and Maduka Okoye will clash when Atalanta BC travel north to meet mid-table Udinese on Saturday in a Serie A encounter at the Bluenergy Stadium.

Lookman, who has struggled for playing time this season following a fallout with Atalanta’s hierarchy over a failed transfer to Inter Milan, finally opened his goal account for the 2025/26 season on Tuesday, scoring in Atalanta’s 1-1 draw at home against AC Milan.

The 28-year-old went on strike in the summer and was thereafter ostracised by the club. He was reintegrated into the team with a four-minute appearance during their 3-0 win at Torino in September before getting his first start in the Champions League against Club Brugge days later.

The reigning African Player of the Year has now presented his salary demands to Turkish giants Galatasaray, reportedly asking for double his current wage of €4.6m gross as the club renews its transfer interest in the Nigerian winger.

His compatriot Okoye says he is enjoying being back on the pitch after returning from a two-month ban for betting irregularities, despite Udinese’s 3-1 defeat to Juventus at the Allianz Stadium on Wednesday night.

The 26-year-old emerged with his reputation enhanced after a commanding individual performance in his third appearance since returning from suspension.

According to Sofascore, Okoye was the highest-rated player on the pitch with a score of 8.2, after pulling off nine saves, including five from inside the box.

“I’ve been out for a while, and it’s always difficult to be without football, but the goalkeeping coaches and the players have always helped me. I feel good, I’m happy, I want to grow, and I learn every day,” Okoye said.

Okoye will hope his excellent showing will be enough to convince Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle to call him up for Nigeria’s World Cup playoff against Gabon next month.

Still the only unbeaten team left in Serie A this season, Atalanta are also Italy’s stalemate specialists, taking a single point from seven of their nine league games.

La Dea dominated local rivals AC Milan in midweek but ultimately settled for one point, while crisis club Juventus beat the Fruilani.

Lookman may again lead La Dea’s attack, with misfiring strikers Gianluca Scamacca and Nikola Krstovic both left on the bench in their last game.

Click here to read article