Atalanta coach Gian Piero Gasperini has come under fire from Nigerian football fans after publicly criticizing Ademola Lookman for missing a penalty in their 3-1 loss to Club Brugge in the UEFA Champions League.
Lookman, returning from a month-long injury, put in a solid performance and even scored Atalanta’s only goal of the match. However, his missed penalty—saved by Brugge’s goalkeeper Simon Mignolet—was highlighted by Gasperini as a costly mistake in their 5-2 aggregate exit from the tournament.
In his post-match press conference, Gasperini called Lookman “one of the worst penalty takers” he has ever seen, insisting that teammates Charles De Ketelaere or Mateo Retegui should have taken the spot-kick instead.
His comments have sparked a wave of outrage among Nigerian fans, who took to social media to defend Lookman and slam Gasperini for what they see as unfair criticism.
One fan, Emeka Okafor, wrote: “Lookman has been one of Atalanta’s best players this season. He returns from injury, scores a goal, and this is how he’s treated? Total disrespect!”
Another, Chioma Nwachukwu, said: “Lookman gave his all after a month out. Instead of praising him, Gasperini tears him down? I’m done supporting Atalanta.”
Many fans believe the coach’s comments were unnecessary and damaging to Lookman’s confidence. Some even vowed to stop supporting Atalanta if the Nigerian forward continues to be disrespected.
Despite the controversy, Lookman remains a fan favorite, with supporters praising his determination and resilience. For many Nigerians, he is still a star, and they won’t let one missed penalty define his brilliance on the pitch.
