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Following his Europa League triumph, Ademola Lookman highlighted how playing for the Super Eagles has motivated him to evolve.
Super Eagles ace Ademola Lookman has credited the support he gets from Nigerians as his motivation to evolve following his hat-trick heroics that helped Atalanta win their first major trophy in 61 years.
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23:54 - 22.05.2024
Europa League final: Super Eagles legend Victor Moses hails hat-trick hero Ademola Lookman for leading Atalanta to victory
Ex-Chelsea wideman Victor Moses took to social media to celebrate Ademola Lookman's heroics against Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final.
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23:15 - 22.05.2024
Lookman joins Iwobi and Aribo in history book
Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman joined his compatriots Alex Iwobi and Joe Aribo in the Europa League elite club.
What he said
Speaking in the post-game press conference, Lookman suggested that he is a late bloomer, pointing out that he has stepped into a new, higher level in the past two years.
"I've always had the confidence in my ability to create, to score goals, to help my teammates," the 26-year-old said in the post-match press conference, per UEFA.com.
"In the past two years, I've been able to take my game to a whole new level. Maybe [my best form] could have come earlier, but it's come now. This is just the beginning. I hope for more nights like this and to just keep getting better and better."
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Lookman on playing for Super Eagles
Lookman made his debut for Nigeria as a 24-year-old in 2022 after waiting unsuccessfully for an England national team call-up, despite representing the Three Lions across multiple age grades.
That period of his desire to don the white kit of England seems like forever ago now, as Lookman is totally committed to the Super Eagles. The 26-year-old was Nigeria’s best attacker at AFCON 2023, and now, following the biggest night in his career, he highlighted how his recent Super Eagles career has impacted him.
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"It's incredible [to play for Nigeria]," he explained. "The support and the love I get back home from the people is unbelievable. It gives me the motivation to evolve in different areas—as a person, not just in my game."
Ademola Lookman became only the fourth footballer to score a hattrick in a one-legged European final after Ferenc Puskas (vs. Frankfurt 1959/60, vs. Benfica 1961/62), Alfredo Di Stefano (vs. Frankfurt 1959/60), and Pierino Patti (vs. Ajax 1968/69).
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