Ademola Lookman bagged a hattrick in Atalanta’s demolition of Bayer Leverkusen, making him the third in the list of Nigerian players who have scored in the Europa League final.
Featuring in a major European club competition final is not a mean feat. For any Nigerian player, it’s an even more special achievement. Same logic can be applied to scoring in these competitions.
Ademola Lookman’s efforts against a heavily dominant Bayer Leverkusen side have put Nigeria players on the radar.
So we will be reminded of the Nigerian players who have in the Europa League final.
1. Alex Iwobi – Arsenal versus Chelsea
Not many teams come up against Eden Hazard when he is having a field day and survive. Arsenal were just unfortunate to come up with an interest Hazard in the final at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.
Alex Iwobi however made history despite being in the losing side. The Fulham midfielder opened the record as the first Nigerian to score in a major European club competition final.
2. Joe Aribo Eintracht Frankfurt versus Rangers
Aribo followed Alex Iwobi three years later helping Rangers into the lead against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Giovanni van Bronckhorst played the Aribo, signed from Charlton Athletic, in a more advanced position.
He pounced on an error from Brazilian defender Tuta to hand Rangers the lead 12 minutes into the second half.
However, like Alex Iwobi, Joe Aribo left the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuán Stadium without the trophy.
The game ended in an Eintracth Frankfurt victory via penalties, with Aaron Ramsey missing the crucial spot kick for Rangers.
3. Ademola Lookman – Atalanta versus Bayer Leverkusen
Ademola Lookman has faced two final heartbreaks already this season and he simply took it out on Leverkusen.
Remember this is a Bayer Leverkusen side that no one has successfully gotten the better of this season. The same Bayer Leverkusen side that found it comfortable coming from two goals down to draw or win games thus season. Two first half goals was all it took for Atalanta to put it all to bed. He netted another to complete his hat trick in the second half, becoming the first African player to score more than once in a major European competition final.
He also becomes the first to score and also win the competition.
