<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/atalanta/">Atalanta</a> and Nigeria forward <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ademola-lookman/">Ademola Lookman</a> has been named the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year, capping off a remarkable year for club and country. Lookman’s acceptance speech included a powerful message of perseverance and overcoming adversity.



Lookman’s selection as CAF African Player of the Year comes as little surprise, particularly after he became the first Atalanta player ever to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, finishing 14th. His standout performances in 2024, including a hat-trick in the Europa League final victory against Bayer Leverkusen, solidified his status as a leading candidate. 



He also earned a place in the Europa League Team of the Year. His 2024 goal and assist totals (27 goals and 12 assists) speak for themselves.



In his acceptance speech, Lookman expressed his gratitude and shared a powerful message: “I want to thank almighty God for everything that He’s been doing in my life… 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.”



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<h2>Lookman’s career path and success at Atalanta</h2>



Lookman’s reference to “failing in front of the world” is a nod to a missed penalty for Fulham in 2020. His journey from that moment to being crowned the best player in Africa underscores his resilience and determination.


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Lookman began his career at Charlton Athletic’s academy before moving to Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, and Leicester City. His career truly flourished after joining Atalanta in 2022, benefitting from coach Gian Piero Gasperini’s guidance.



Notably, the award win for Ademola Lookman is something of a surprise given the high caliber of African talent currently playing in Europe’s top leagues. Neither Sadio Mané nor Mohamed Salah, both previous winners, featured among the nominees this year, highlighting the ever-shifting landscape of African football and the emergence of new stars.

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For the first time this season, Bayer Leverkusen lost a game. Atalanta collected its first international trophy by defeating the German side in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/europa-league-tv-schedule/">Europa League</a> Final on Wednesday. Leverkusen, which already secured the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">Bundesliga</a> and can still win the DFB-Pokal Final, will not be the second German side to win a treble. Instead, it is Atalanta to earn a second top trophy in its history. 



One week ago, Atalanta fell to Juventus in the Coppa Italia Final in a bid to claim a second title in that competition. Having effectively secured a Champions League spot in <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Serie A</a> this season, this was the last truly meaningful game for the Italian side.



The difference in the game was Ademola Lookman. The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester winger scored a hat trick in the Europa League Final. In doing so, the Nigerian is the first player to score a hat trick in a Europa League Final. Interestingly, it was Lookman’s first career hat trick. A disjointed Leverkusen side never looked like much of a threat. Xabi Alonso’s side, which always had a late, dramatic comeback in the cards, totaled just three shots on target, never truly testing Juan Musso in the Atalanta net. 



This is also the crowning moment for Gian Piero Gasperini. Gasperini has been the manager of Atalanta since the 2016/17 season, and he has been instrumental in turning Atalanta into a dangerous side. Despite three third-place finishes and a pair of fourth places, Atalanta lacked a trophy. Three runner-up finishes in the Coppa Italia left the side frustrated. Now, it is a European champion bound for a return to the UEFA Champions League.



Atalanta is the first Italian team to win the Europa League or UEFA Cup since Parma in 1999.



<h2>Lookman’s hat trick guides Atalanta to Europa League dominance</h2>



Leverkusen has not been known to have elite starts to games. Instead, the German outfit made its work known in the second half, often relying on late-game dramatics to rescue results. Atalanta took advantage. Twelve minutes into the game, Lookman reacted the fastest on a cross in the Leverkusen box. His outstretched left foot <a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1793360546978218324" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">dunked the ball</a> into the back of the net.



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Lookman secured his brace after just 26 minutes. Sloppy hold-up play from Leverkusen let the ball fall to Lookman. The Nigerian skinned Granit Xhaka before his <a href="https://x.com/CBSSportsGolazo/status/1793364095171006944" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">low curling effort</a> beat Matěj Kovář. Atalanta would carry that two-goal lead into the second half, with Leverkusen struggling to mount any form of offense. Atalanta’s defensive shape stunted the creativity of players like Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.



By comparison, Atalanta always looked dangerous. The best of Lookman’s three goals was the third. With 15 minutes to play in the 90, Lookman picked up the ball just outside the Leverkusen box. One stepover later, the Nigerian had the space for a thunderous left-footed strike that flew into the top corner of the goal. That was the moment of defeat for Leverkusen, as Xabi Alonso looked helplessly at a three-goal deficit. 



Even Leverkusen, which was <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/leverkusen-unbeaten-run-tops-grandeur-of-arsenal-invincibles/">unbeatable for the entire season</a> to this point, could not overcome a gap this large. Much less, it failed to penetrate the Atalanta defense at all. The Italian side claimed the Europa League on the biggest night in the club’s history.



PHOTOS: IMAGO

Atalanta wins Europa League, ends Leverkusen's unbeaten run

Atalanta collected its first European trophy by defeating German side Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League Final on Wednesday.

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