Ademola Lookman has been ruled out of Atalanta’s crucial Champions League clash against Barcelona due to a knee injury sustained in training, the Serie A club announced on Tuesday.

In a brief statement, Atalanta confirmed that the 27-year-old Nigerian forward suffered an injury to the lateral joint of his right knee and will not travel with the team to Spain. The Italians are set to face Barcelona on Wednesday, hoping to secure direct qualification for the Champions League Round of 16.

While the club did not disclose a timeline for Lookman’s recovery, reports from Italian media suggest he could be sidelined for up to a month. His absence is a significant blow to Atalanta, as the forward has been in remarkable form this season, netting 14 goals and providing six assists. Lookman’s impact was also evident last season when he scored a memorable hat-trick in the Europa League final victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Atalanta, under the guidance of Gian Piero Gasperini, have become a force both domestically and in Europe in recent years. Currently, they are still in contention for the Serie A title and are performing well in the Champions League. The Bergamo-based team sits seventh in the 36-club league phase, but with several teams tightly packed around them, anything less than a victory against an already-qualified Barcelona could see Atalanta forced into a play-off spot.

Lookman’s absence will undoubtedly be felt as Atalanta prepares for one of their toughest challenges this season.

The Super Eagles have been drawn into Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco. The group stage draw took place during a ceremony in Morocco on Monday.

A key highlight of Group C is Nigeria's face-off with the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia, reigniting a historic rivalry. Tunisia, champions on home soil in 2004, eliminated Nigeria in the semi-final of that edition before defeating Morocco to lift the trophy. The Tunisian side also edged out Nigeria in the Round of 16 at AFCON 2021 in Cameroon. However, Nigeria has its share of triumphs, having defeated Tunisia 4-2 en route to the 2000 AFCON final in Lagos.

While Nigeria and Tunisia are favorites on paper, East African representatives Tanzania and Uganda are expected to challenge strongly for the two automatic qualification spots from the group.

The other groups promise similarly thrilling matchups. Host nation Morocco headlines Group A alongside Mali, Zambia, and Comoros. Group B features heavyweights Egypt, South Africa, Angola, and Zimbabwe, all aiming to make their mark. In Group D, reigning 2021 champions Senegal will face DR Congo, Benin, and Botswana, while Group E sees Algeria pitted against Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, and Sudan. Defending champions Ivory Coast will face a tough challenge in Group F, where they take on Cameroon, Gabon, and Mozambique.

With the tournament set to take place this December in Morocco, fans are optimistic that Nigeria, who narrowly lost to Ivory Coast in the last final, can go one step further this time. Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle, who attended the draw, will aim to join legends Otto Gloria, Clemens Westerhof, and Stephen Keshi as managers who have lifted the AFCON trophy for Nigeria.

CAF president Patrice Motsepe expressed confidence in the success of this edition, noting that it would raise the bar even higher following Ivory Coast’s remarkable hosting last year. “This AFCON in Morocco is set to be the most successful yet. Africa boasts many exceptionally talented footballers, and all of them will be showcasing their skills,” Motsepe said.

The tournament, originally slated for mid-2025, was rescheduled to avoid clashing with the inaugural revamped FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. As the countdown begins, fans across Africa eagerly anticipate an exciting and historic AFCON in Morocco.