Ayobami Atanda 

Immediately after Ademola Lookman scored his third goal in Atalanta’s 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League Final in Aviva Stadium, Dublin, Ireland, Peter Drury, a popular British sports commentator, gave a commentary that filled the ears of football lovers. He said, “The night of his dream! The night of his life!” The Nigerian forward became the first player to score a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final. His sensational display got him the man of the match award. 

In the post-match press conference, Ademola Lookman told TNT Sports that the night was one of his best nights. He notably remarked, “It’s one of the best nights of my life.” Felix Emanus, his mentor and coach of former youth side Waterloo, added “We’ve been dreaming about this for a long time, since Ade was a kid at Waterloo. Tonight was a dream come true.”

Nonetheless, the night was not only the night of Ademola’s dream and life but also the night of Atalanta’s dream and life. His sole goals gave the team its first trophy since 1963 after winning Coppa Italia, its first trophy in any European competition, and its second trophy in its 116 years of history. 

“We’ve got to celebrate, we made history tonight,” he said after the victory against Bayer Leverkusen, a team that went on a 361-day unbeaten run and only lost at its last match of the 2023-2024 season. 

The historic win of Atalanta and Lookman’s sublime performance made an Italian journalist claim that it was possible for the Italian side to name a street in Bergamo in his name. 

Ademola Lookman’s Greater Night of His Dream, Night 

Ademola Lookman edged over Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy, and Ronwen Williams to win CAF Men’s Player of the Year award at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday night. He won the most coveted award for male footballers having produced sterling performances for club and country in the whole year. 

Cafonline wrote on its website after the end of the award ceremony, “Ademola Lookman of Nigeria has been crowned the Men’s Player of the Year, capping off an incredible year where he inspired Atalanta to European success and led the Super Eagles to the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON final. Lookman’s dazzling performances and clinical finishing have made him a standout star.”

The Nigerian winger said after being crowned CAF Men’s Best Player of the year, “I want to thank the Presidents, all my teammates, club and country, for their support and the love that they give me.”

“This award is for me, my family, my nation and to be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible. I am extremely proud.”

“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa.”

“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this, don’t let your failures weigh you down or break your wings. Turn your pain into your power and continue to fly. God bless.” 

Peter Drury’s presumed Lookman’s night of his dream and life was his heroic display at the Europa League final. However, the eventuality of his accumulated performances for this club and country has fetched him the best men’s player of the year in the continent in 2024 being the 6th Nigerian to win the award after Rasidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Kanu Nwakwo (1996 & 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Oshimen (2023). 

Ademola’s Stellar Performances 

Ademola Lookman was the only African in the shortlist of the Ballon d’or award nominees. He came 14th in the ranking despite playing for a team that played in the fiddle elite competition of UEFA. He has netted 16 times and got 8 assists in 2024.

With his goal contributions, Atalanta sits in the first position in Italian Serie A with 37 points after 16 matches and is two points above Napoli that occupies the second position. He is four goals behind his teammate Mateo Retegui who has 12 goals in the league and tops the chart of the highest goals scorers, while he is still among the top assist makers with 4 assists in the league. 

Ademola’s memorable har-trick qualified Atalanta in the ongoing Champions League following the UEFA rule of giving the winner of UEFA Europa League automatic qualification to play in the biggest competition of clubs in Europe. Ademola’s Atalanta’s campaign in the tournament has been above average, sitting in the 13th position among the 36 teams with 11 points after match day 6 of which he has scored 3 goals and had 1 assist in 5 matches he has played. 

With his 11 goals and 5 assists in 2024-2025 season, Atalanta is at the forefront of challenging for all trophies in all competitions.