Eko Hot Blog reports that Super Eagles head coach Finidi George and Nigeria Football Federation Technical Director Austin Eguaveon have praised Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman.
Lookman scored a historic hat-trick that led his club to their first European triumph and major title in 61 years.
He made history on Wednesday by becoming the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
His three goals led Atalanta to a stunning 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, ending the newly crowned German champions’ 51-game unbeaten run at the Dublin Arena.
The Nigerian striker opened the scoring for Atalanta in the 12th minute and added a second goal 14 minutes later, giving his team a 2-0 lead at halftime.
Austin Eguavoen
He sealed the victory in the second half with another emphatic left-footed strike, making Atalanta the first Italian team to win the Europa League.
Inspired by Lookman’s heroics, Finidi, recently unveiled by the NFF as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, praised the 26-year-old’s performance.
He also applauded his compatriots, Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella, who played for Leverkusen.
“Watching Ademola Lookman, Nathan Tella and Victor Boniface in the Europa League final was a thing of joy and national pride.
“Well done, guys. And what a performance that was from Lookman!,” Finidi wrote on X.
Lookman’s debut for the Super Eagles came under Eguavoen during the two-legged 2022 World Cup qualifiers against Ghana.
And the former international couldn’t be prouder of the England-born player.
Nigeria internationals who featured at the Europa League Final
“March 25 2022. The day I gave Ademola Lookman his national debut for Nigeria, 1000 kilometres away in Kumasi.
“Fast forward two years, he’s starred at the AFCON in Ivory Coast and become the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA club final,” Eguavoen noted.
Since his debut, Lookman has made 21 appearances for Nigeria, scoring six goals.
Hence, he has grown to become one of the most influential members of the Super Eagles in two years.
He is anticipated to rejoin the team for next month’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa on June 7 and Benin Republic on June 10.
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