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Nigeria’s senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, have expressed their support for Ademola Lookman after the forward was publicly criticised by Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini for missing a penalty in a UEFA Champions League home defeat against Club Brugge.
In a show of solidarity, the official Super Eagles X handle quoted Lookman’s statement on the controversy with a brief but powerful message: “We are with you, Ade.”
Responding to Gasperini’s remarks in a statement on Wednesday, Lookman described the coach’s public rebuke as “deeply disrespectful.”
“Being singled out in the manner I have been not only hurts but feels deeply disrespectful, not least because of the immense hard work and commitment I have always put in each and every day to help bring success to this club and to the incredible fans of Bergamo,” Lookman said.
The 26-year-old also clarified that he had not defied team instructions, revealing that the club’s designated penalty taker had asked him to take the spot-kick.
“During the match, the designated penalty taker instructed me to take the penalty and to support the team, I took responsibility in the moment to do so,” he explained.
