Ghana’s own Kamaldeen Sulemana and Ibrahim Sulemana once again showed why they are among the country’s brightest stars as they both scored in Atalanta’s thrilling 3-3 pre-season draw against Croatian side NK Opatija at the Centro Sportivo Bortolotti 1.
The match was a rollercoaster from start to finish, with Atalanta twice taking the lead thanks largely to the dynamic efforts of the Ghanaian duo but some defensive hiccups saw the game end all square.
Kamaldeen, who recently made the move to Atalanta from Southampton, opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.
The former Right to Dream star showed his trademark speed and directness, finishing off a perfect cross from Lazar Samardžić to give the Nerazzurri the early advantage.
His runs down the wing and clever positioning reminded fans why Ghana is proud to call him one of their own.
Just 11 minutes later, it was Ibrahim Sulemana’s turn to shine. The midfielder, also a Ghana international, fired a stunning long-range strike into the top corner after a slick pass from Gianluca Scamacca.
Ibrahim’s goal underlined his growing importance in Atalanta’s midfield and his knack for scoring crucial goals.
Though Atalanta controlled large parts of the game, the Croatian side fought back hard. Rajan Zlibanovic equalized twice for Opatija, while Nigerian forward Goodness Ajayi gave the visitors a surprise lead early in the second half. But Atalanta refused to give up, and Lazar Samardžić converted a late penalty to rescue a point for the hosts
For Kamaldeen, this season is a fresh start after a difficult spell in England where injuries slowed his progress. His €17.5m transfer to Atalanta is being seen as a chance to revive his career.
“I’m here to contribute fully, not to be a substitute,” Kamaldeen said confidently during pre-season.
Ibrahim and Kamaldeen’s partnership on the pitch is one Ghanaian fans will be watching closely as Atalanta prepare for a challenging Serie A season, including UEFA Champions League fixtures.
