Earlier this week Atalanta’s Ademola Lookman was crowned African Footballer of the Year, following up on last year’s winner Victor Osimhen to make it back-to-back wins for Nigerian players.
It was a fantastic year for the Atalanta wide man, as he finished the 2023/24 season with 17 goals and nine assists in all competitions, while also winning Atalanta their first piece of silverware since 2011 by scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
Consecutive wins of this accolade by Nigerian players is a monumental achievement for the nation, as their last winner came in the form of then-Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
Thus, it seems pertinent to take a look at how Lookman came to win the prestigious award, and how he has truly discovered his best form while playing in Bergamo.
A hat-trick in the Europa League final showed Lookman’s capabilities
Probably the crowning moment of Lookman’s career so far was becoming the first-ever player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
Not only did his exploits secure the trophy for Atalanta, but the victory also halted Bayer Leverkusen’s 51-match unbeaten run dramatically.
Lookman’s hat-trick was a sight to behold too. His first goal came from a smart finish inside the area, managing to get across Exequiel Palacios to finish into the top corner.
The Nigerian’s second was an absolute peach, nutmegging Granit Xhaka on the edge of the area before bending a delightful curling strike past Matej Kovar in goal.
The final goal of the night came after the former Leicester City man brought out the step-over to turn Edmond Tapsoba inside out before belting the ball into the far top corner.
It was a fantastic individual performance from Lookman and an evening that put the icing on the cake of an excellent season for the forward.
Ademola Lookman was fantastic in Serie A last season
A solid base for Lookman to win the African Player of the Year award was his spectacular form in Serie A. Multiple standout performances set the Nigerian apart from his competitors.
A 3-2 victory over AC Milan saw Lookman score from a deflected strike and a neat finish from a Charles De Ketelaere cross to send Atalanta on their way to a stunning victory.
The winger also dominated during his side’s 2-1 away victory over Monza, assisting De Ketelaere with an excellently placed corner, before a smart cutback allowed El Bilal Toure to make it 2-0.
He also managed the winner in Atalanta’s 1-0 win over Lecce, an excellent low-driven strike that found the corner from outside the box.
Lookman finished the Serie A campaign with 11 goals and seven assists, which made him the club’s highest contributor with 18. Within this, he was the third top scorer to Gianluca Scamacca and Teun Koopmeiners who managed 12 each, and also Atalanta’s second-best creator behind De Ketelaere on eight assists.
Atalanta finished the season in fourth place with 69 points, the team and Lookman’s efforts being rewarded with a Champions League spot.
However, his exploits this season have arguably been even more impressive.
Lookman’s output has increased this season
Despite a magnificent 23/24, Lookman has gone one better during the current campaign. 13 appearances in Serie A have garnered eight goals and four assists, meaning the Nigerian already looks set to beat his record from last year by some distance.
An incredible cross right onto the head of colleague Mateo Retegui, followed by a truly breathtaking dribble and finish at the near post, allowed Lookman to steal the show in a 3-2 home win against Fiorentina in September.
The wide man also managed four goal contributions in a 6-1 thumping of Hellas Verona, a commanding performance that saw him score and assist twice each.
Lookman’s attacking dominance has seen him become the league’s fourth-top scorer and third-highest goal contributor, while also creating more chances than 92% of Serie A’s wingers.
Atalanta now sits top of the division, currently two points clear of title rivals Napoli, and a lot of this can be attributed to Lookman’s performances.
Lookman’s performances for Nigeria are not to be forgotten
A potentially overlooked aspect of Lookman’s ability to take home the award were his performances during the Africa Cup of Nations between January and February 2024.
Having failed to fully impress during the Group Stage, the Nigerian came alive in the Knockout rounds against Cameroon and Angola.
A messy 36th-minute scramble allowed Lookman to put the Super Eagles ahead against Cameroon before he was able to crown his performance with a close-range finish inside the area after a low curling cross from Calvin Bassey. This brace teed up a quarter-final against Angola.
Lookman was once again the hero here, thumping the ball into the roof of the net past goalkeeper Antonio Signori after making a perfectly timed run to latch onto Moses Simon’s cut-back. The solitary goal was enough to send Nigeria into the semi-final against South Africa.
A penalty shootout win here allowed the Super Eagles to progress to the final, where they were sadly defeated by the Ivory Coast 2-1.
However, Lookman had proved his worth once more with some fearless performances in which he was able to take the game by the scruff of the neck and deliver.
Lookman has shown his quality in all areas
Having endured disappointing spells at Leicester and Fulham where he had failed to impress, it is clear that Lookman’s career has truly come to life since moving to Italy.
His presence at Atalanta has been duly recognised with this award, as Lookman has been able to perform week-in, and week-out over the past few seasons in Bergamo.
Standout showings for club and country saw him on his way to winning the prestigious award, a victory which most will feel is certainly deserved.
With his impact continuing into the current season, there is no telling just how high the 27-year-old can fly at present.