Atalanta head coach Raffaele Palladino has singled out Nigerian defender Honest Ahanor for special praise following the club’s eye-catching 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night, Soccernet.ng reports.
La Dea came from behind in Bergamo to shock the Premier League giants, extending their impressive European run and sealing their reputation as Italy’s most consistent Champions League performers this season.
While goals from Gianluca Scamacca and Charles De Ketelaere decided the contest, Palladino believes Ahanor’s impact from the bench played a key role in preserving the platform for victory.
Ahanor, Nigeria’s most valuable teenager, was introduced in the 71st minute. The youngster replaced former Arsenal defender Sead Kolašinac at a tense stage of the match, with the scores delicately balanced. Chelsea had taken the lead through João Pedro after 25 minutes, only for Scamacca to level ten minutes into the second half with a close-range header that reignited the stadium.
Shortly after coming on, the teenager produced a decisive moment. With Pedro threatening to burst through and restore Chelsea’s advantage, Ahanor read the danger early and made a crucial interception inside the defensive third. It was a moment of calm awareness that eased pressure and allowed Atalanta to regroup.
Seven minutes from time, De Ketelaere poked home a well-worked winner, completing the turnaround and sending the home crowd into celebration.
In a cameo that lasted barely 20 minutes, Ahanor finished with a perfect passing record, completing 100 per cent of his ten passes. Four of those came in the opposition half, while one was recorded as a key pass; tidy, efficient numbers that reflected a composed display beyond his years.
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Palladino’s public endorsement for Nigerian teen wonder
Unsurprisingly, goalscorers Scamacca and De Ketelaere have drawn most of the headlines since the final whistle.
Yet Palladino was keen to redirect some of the spotlight towards Ahanor, who only arrived from Genoa in the summer and is still being carefully integrated into the first-team picture.
“Ahanor is a talent that we have to develop,” the Atalanta boss said as per Yahoo Sport.
“He played a great game against Chelsea, and I really like his spirit. Being bold and making the most, 110%, of every chance he’s given.”
Atalanta are currently the highest-ranked Serie A side in the Champions League and the only Italian club to have already secured at least a place in the knockout playoff with two matches to spare. They have collected 13 points from six European games, a sharp contrast to their domestic struggles.
In Serie A, La Dea sit 12th, with just 16 points from 14 matches and only three league wins all season. They have lost four of their last five league outings and face a tricky test next against Cagliari, who beat Roma 1-0 last week.
Beyond club form, Ahanor’s rapid rise is also attracting attention at international level.
Born in Italy to Nigerian parents, he is currently eligible only for Nigeria. However, he could become eligible for Italy upon turning 18 and applying for an Italian passport, opening the door to a potential international tug-of-war.
Nigeria did not invite him to join the Super Eagles ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with head coach Eric Chelle favouring Bruno Onyemaechi and Zaidu Sanusi at left-back. There are already indications that Italy may attempt to persuade Ahanor to commit his future to the Azzurri, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon.
Nigeria, meanwhile, are still recovering from the disappointment of failing to qualify for that tournament, having lost on penalties to DR Congo in the final of the African qualifying playoffs.
