Ademola Lookman wrote his name into history by scoring the first-ever hat-trick in a Europa League final, leading Atalanta to a stunning 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. This triumph not only handed the Bundesliga champions their first defeat of the season but also secured Atalanta their first major European trophy.
Football fans are now tipping Nigeria’s superstar for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year award, following his heroic performance at the Aviva Stadium. Lookman’s brilliance has drawn comparisons to his standout displays at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals for Nigeria.
Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo is among those calling for Lookman to be honored by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Lookman’s hat-trick makes him the third Nigerian to score in a Europa League final and the first African to net three goals in a major UEFA final, according to Opta.
Atalanta’s victory caps a remarkable season, despite their Coppa Italia final loss to Juventus. Congratulations to Ademola Lookman and the Atalanta team on their historic win. Best of luck in the upcoming season #lookman #europaleague #europaleaguefinal #supereagles #uefachampionsleague #caf #afcon2023 #nff #npfl #atalanta #seriea #osimhen #africaplayeroftheyear #cafawards #kudus #lookmanvskudus