EXCLUSIVE: Solomon Kwambe Says Ademola Lookman Deserves to be African Player of the Year

Former Nigeria international Solomon Kwambe believes that Atalanta star Ademola Lookman (26) merits the title of 2024 Africa Player of the Year. The Super Eagle netted a hat-trick as his Italian team triumphed 3-0 over Bayer Leverkusen, securing the Europa League title in an electrifying final at the Aviva Stadium.

Lookman’s man-of-the-match performance saw several records shattered for the former Everton and Leicester City player. He became only the second player to score a hat-trick in the final of a significant European competition for an Italian club, following Pierino Prati’s feat for AC Milan against Ajax in the 1969 European Cup.

His three goals mark the sixth hat-trick in the final of a major UEFA competition, ending a long drought since Jupp Heynckes’ hat-trick for Borussia Monchengladbach in the 1975 UEFA Cup. Lookman joins the ranks of notable Nigerians like Alex Iwobi (2019 Europa League) and Joe Aribo (2022 Europa League), who have scored in the final of a major UEFA competition. Moreover, he is the first African player to achieve a hat-trick in such a final, cementing his place in history.

Admiring the forward’s outstanding performance against Bayer Leverkusen, Kwambe, who has 37 international caps for Nigeria, is convinced that Lookman is destined to be named the best player on the African continent.

“Ademola Lookman delivered a stellar performance, showcasing why he’s considered a world-class player. His display wasn’t just impressive; it exemplified excellence. If you were to ask me to rate him, I’d give him a perfect ten out of ten,” the former FC Tulsa defender told 24hscore.com.

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“He was one of the standout performers during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, even though the Super Eagles narrowly missed out on the title. Carrying that same form to his club, he excelled both in Serie A and now the Europa League. Considering these achievements, it wouldn’t be surprising if he were to be voted as the next African Player of the Year. There would be no controversies surrounding such a decision, given his stellar performance against Bayer Leverkusen. Currently, no other player seems to match his level of brilliance.”

During the 2023 AFCON, Lookman made significant contributions with three goals and an assist as Jose Peseiro’s team finished second behind hosts Côte d’Ivoire, suffering a narrow 2-1 loss in the final.

In a remarkable season, the Anglo-Nigerian also notched up 15 goals and provided eight assists for Gian Piero Gasperini’s team.

Lookman Crucial to Nigeria’s World Cup Ambitions

Nigeria continues its bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup with crucial matches against South Africa and Benin, currently holding the third spot in Group C. Kwambe believes that Lookman’s outstanding form could be pivotal in helping Finidi George’s squad secure a place in the global tournament.

He added: “Those games will be very tough because there are high expectations from Nigerians with Finidi taking on this job. He definitely needs to show that he is the right man for the position. No country in Africa is a pushover, as every team aims to win. However, with the impressive form of Lookman and other Super Eagles stars like Victor Boniface, Nathan Tella, and Victor Osimhen, the road to qualification could be significantly smoother. Overall, Nigerian players are excelling abroad, which is a promising sign for the country’s progress. If this trend continues, it won’t just be about qualifying for the World Cup but also about competing to win when the tournament begins.”

What Has Been Said About Lookman

After the final whistle in Dublin, his boyhood coach Felix Emanus admitted he had been dreaming about a night like Wednesday for Lookman. “I send him a text before every game,” Felix told TNT in an interview. “What a great season, qualification for the Champions League, the Italian Cup final, and now the Europa League final. Time to put the icing on the cake and time to deliver one of those Waterloo-type performances. I can’t tell you my emotions. I’ve been dreaming about this for a long time since he was a kid at Waterloo. I’d just like to say a few words to a couple of the coaches at Waterloo, and all the people who have worked with Ademola to try and get him where he is. I cried when the third goal went in and I don’t cry! People are probably watching this now and going ‘you big sissy!’

“I’m so glad for Ade. He works so hard, he’s a quiet lad – sometimes he’s misunderstood for his quietness – but he’s a great kid, wants to learn, wants to always get better and reach the top. To be honest with you, he thrives on the big stage, he loves it and he’s never been frightened of it. When we used to take him for trials, I would be more nervous than him, he would be calm and cool and get the job done.”