Reigning African Player of the Year Ademola Lookman has ended a most eventful 2024 with a Man-of-the-Match display for Atalanta to get a result at Lazio in the Italian Serie A.
5.Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi
The former Flying Eagles striker scored the two second-half goals that gave his Belgian club OH Leuven the home win over Beerschot. He has now netted four goals since his arrival in the summer from Italian club Salernitana. His double at the weekend meant he was back among the goals after going seven games without one and the home win kept his modest club away from the drop zone.
4.Tolu Arokodare
The big striker, who is very much on the Super Eagles radar, is now the leading scorer in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League going into the New Year after he netted his 13th goal in Genk entertaining 2-2 draw at Antwerp. He has already surpassed his overall league tally of the previous season. His club go into the New year top of the table in Belgium with 42 points from 20 matches, a point ahead of closest rivals Club Brugge.
3.Ola Aina
The Super Eagles fullback was again in imperial form in a 2-0 win at Everton as Nottingham Forest continue to punch above their weight in the Premier League. He played the entire duration. Forest, who have had to battle against relegation since their return to the English top league, are second on the Premier League table with 37 points from 19 matches.
Fis magic🪄
Fourth-placed Lazio scored in the 27th minute when Nicolò Rovella played a high through ball to #Nigeria international Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, who cut inside the box and sent a bouncing volley into the net to punish Atalanta.
pic.twitter.com/YGSjGCBd0l— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) December 29, 2024
2.Fisayo Dele-Bashiru
After a difficult start to life in Italy, the Super Eagles midfielder is proving his class with Lazio. He grabbed his second Serie A goal – a super strike – to put his club in front against Atalanta. Lazio were eventually pegged back to a 1-1 draw, but even coach Marco Baroni said he has been impressed with the progress Dele Bashiru has made since his arrival from Turkey. Lazio are also fourth in the Serie A standings going into 2025.
1.Ademola Lookman
‘Mola’ signed off on a most memorable 2024 in fine style after he provided the assist for Atalanta to salvage a draw at Lazio. The reward was that he bagged his seventh Man of the match Award of the season. He now has 14 G/A in Serie A. In 2024, he was named the best player in Africa, fired an unforgettable hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League for Atalanta to win their first major trophy and his goals also lifted the Super Eagles to their first AFCON final in 10 years. A lot will therefore be expected of the 27-year-old forward in the New Year beginning in earnest with the Supercoppa against Inter Milan in Saudi Arabia on January 2. Can he better what he achieved in 2024? He says he is hungrier…
Ademola Lookman's rise since moving to Atalanta is nothing short of inspiring ❤️
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) December 22, 2024
CBS Sports CAF correspondent @MimosaFawaz talks the Nigerian's capabilities and what his future holds 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/Cibr4SxPfN
