Super Eagles and Atalanta winger, Ademola Lookman has shared his deep thoughts after the announcement of his nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award.
Lookman helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scoring three goals during the tournament.
The 26-year old also had a memorable 2023/24 season with Atalanta.
He was the face of the team’s UEFA Europa League final win against Bayer Leverkusen, scoring all three goals in the final held at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
The Nigerian winger poses for a photograph with the Match Ball after scoring a hat-trick and the Player of the Match award after the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 final match. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Ademola Lookman shared how he found out he had been nominated, inside the team bus back from training.
He also shared how his Super Eagles teammate, Calvin Bassey, reacted after hearing the news.
Lookman and Calvin Bassey celebrate. Photo | X
“It’s a special, special feeling, man. I was on a bus on the way back from training and I saw a post that I’d been nominated for the Ballon d’Or and I was a bit surprised. I kept scrolling, then I saw loads and loads of notifications, so I knew it was real,” Lookman said.
“Obviously, I am in a room with Calvin Bassey and when I told him, he was just jumping up and down. He was very happy and was like, ‘you don’t really understand.’ That was when I took it in,” Lookman added.
Lookman continued to shine for the Super Eagles during the recent international break, scoring two goals in Nigeria’s 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in AFCON qualifiers clash.
