Italian Serie A club Atalanta have confirmed that Ademola Lookman will be released to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) after their league match against Cagliari on December 13, creating a tight schedule ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The in-form winger is expected to feature in Atalanta’s crucial fixture before travelling to Nigeria, where he is slated to report to the Super Eagles camp on December 15.
This timeline, however, casts serious doubt on his availability for Nigeria’s high-profile international friendly against Egypt on December 14. With just one day between the match and his club engagement, Lookman is almost certain to miss the clash, which forms part of the team’s final preparations for AFCON.
Lookman has been a key figure for both club and country, and his late arrival means head coach Finidi George (or current coach at time) will have to explore alternative attacking options for the Egypt test. The Super Eagles are expected to proceed with their camp plans as they await the arrival of key players from Europe.
The 2025 AFCON tournament remains the priority for Nigeria, and Lookman’s release, though delayed, is still seen as a boost to the Eagles’ preparations.
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