Chikelue Iloenyosi, a former Nigeria international, has stated that Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick for Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League (UEL) final against Bayer Leverkusen was the defining moment in securing the 2024 African Player of the Year Award, Completesports.com reports.

Lookman, who has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Atalanta in Serie A this season, was crowned the 2024 African Player of the Year over the weekend in Morocco. The 27-year-old became the sixth Nigerian to win the prestigious award for individual excellence in men’s football on the continent.

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“To score a hat-trick in a cup final like the UEFA Europa League is no small feat,” Iloenyosi, affectionately known as ‘General,’ remarked. “Such moments are rare, and when he did that, I knew he was on the path to being crowned Africa’s Best for the year.”

Lookman becomes the sixth Nigerian to claim the honour, with Nwankwo Kanu being the only Nigerian to have won it twice, in 1996 and 1999. The complete list of Nigerian winners includes:

Rashidi Yekini (1993)

Emmanuel Amuneke (1994)

Nwankwo Kanu (1996 & 1999)

Victor Ikpeba (1997)

Victor Osimhen (2023)

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Iloenyosi, currently the Chairman of the Anambra Football Association, congratulated Lookman on his achievement and expressed confidence in his ability to remain an outstanding ambassador for Nigeria.

“This achievement will undoubtedly inspire him during the 2025 AFCON finals in Morocco and the 2026 World Cup qualifiers,” Iloenyosi concluded.

By Sab Osuji