Ademola Lookman: End of league goal drought & implications for Super Eagles AFCON assault

Ademola Lookman delivered the decisive touch again on Saturday evening as Atalanta cruised to a 2-0 win over Fiorentina in their Serie A matchday 13 fixture.

The Super Eagles forward, starting his fifth straight league match, struck in the 51st minute to double La Dea’s advantage after Evan Odilon Kossounou opened the scoring late in the first half.

The 28-year-old lasted 77 minutes and was involved all over the pitch, three attempts on goal, two big chances created, and three key passes reflecting a performance built on confidence rather than caution. His passing was sharp, completing 24 of 28 attempts, and the goal carried extra weight: it snapped a month-long scoring drought in Serie A, his last league strike coming on 28 October against Milan.

It also continued a timely run. Lookman has now scored in back-to-back matches for the first time this season, a stretch that mirrors Atalanta’s strong push as they adjust to a new managerial setup. His form could not have resurfaced at a more important period, with AFCON 2025 just weeks away and questions lingering over Victor Osimhen’s readiness.

Lookman smashes home! 🏠#AtalantaFiorentina 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mYjSRhcfwj

— Lega Serie A (@SerieA_EN) November 30, 2025

Lookman: A clearer head, a new coach, and timing that suits the Super Eagles

Lookman’s campaign has carried its share of turbulence.

The early-season transfer stalemate with Atalanta’s hierarchy created unnecessary friction, and the sideline clash with former manager Ivan Jurić only deepened the sense of a season drifting off course. Yet the arrival of Raffaele Palladino has reset the mood around him. The 2024 CAF Player of the Year now looks settled, purposeful and unburdened.

Even in matches where he does not find the net, his influence has remained visible. Against Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek, he struck the bar, set up a goal and scored one himself, a reminder of the level he reached last season and the one before.

With Osimhen still navigating fitness concerns, Lookman’s uptick matters beyond Bergamo. Nigeria will need his creativity and aggression in Morocco, and his return to rhythm suggests he may be timing his run perfectly as AFCON 2025 closes in.