The Nigeria national football team, the Super Eagles have congratulated Ademola Lookman after making the 30-man shortlist for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Ademola Lookman plays as a winger for the Super Eagles of Nigeria and Italian Serie A side, Atalanta that won the 2023/2024 Europa League title.
“Congratulations to our own Ademola Lookman, who has been nominated for the Ballon d’Or award. Goodluck Demola,” the Super Eagles wrote via X (formerly Twitter).
Congratulations to our own @Alookman_ who has been nominated for the @ballondor award. Goodluck Demola 🔥🙌🏽 #soarsupereagles pic.twitter.com/1SUQ1hGceE
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— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) September 4, 2024
Lookman was instrumental in Atalanta winning the 2023/2024 Europa League, scoring a hat-trick in the final to help Atalanta defeat Bayer Leverkusen. He thus became the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final. He was named as the Man of the Match. He is the first African Player to score a hat trick in a major European final. He was included in the UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.and was named as Atalanta Player of the Season.
Lookman had earlier featured for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) earlier this year, scoring three goals as Nigeria finished runners-up behind hosts Ivory Coast. Helping Nigeria to the AFCON finals, he was included in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
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He becomes the 9th Nigerian to be nominated for the coveted award after Finidi George in 1995, Daniel Amokachi in 1995, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha in 1995, Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and 1999, Victor Ikpeba in 1997, Sunday Oliseh in 1998, Asisat Oshoala in 2022 and 2023, and Victor Osimhen in 2023.