The 2024 Europa League final will feature a thrilling showdown with Nigerian talent as Ademola Lookman of Atalanta faces off against Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella of Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin on Wednesday.
Leverkusen, the newly crowned Bundesliga champions, made history by clinching their first-ever title without suffering a defeat, extending their unbeaten streak to 51 games across all competitions this season. Following the Europa League final, they will compete against Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Lookman played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s journey to the final, scoring the opening goal in their 3-0 victory over Marseille in the second leg of the semifinal, leading to a 4-1 aggregate triumph. Meanwhile, Boniface and Tella, though unused substitutes, witnessed Leverkusen’s dramatic comeback with two late goals to draw 2-2 against Roma, securing a 4-2 aggregate win.
This season, Lookman has been impressive for Atalanta, netting 12 goals and providing 8 assists. Boniface, despite a three-month injury setback, has scored 21 goals and made 10 assists in his debut season in Germany. Tella has also contributed significantly to Leverkusen’s success, with 7 goals and 6 assists.
For Atalanta, a victory would end a 61-year trophy drought, following three recent Coppa Italia final losses, the most recent to Juventus. Bayer Leverkusen aims to overcome their historical "nearly men" reputation, having previously finished as runners-up in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal, and Champions League in the 2001/02 season.
Regardless of the outcome, Nigerian football will celebrate a Europa League winner, joining the ranks of Victor Moses, who won the trophy twice with Chelsea (2013, 2019), John Mikel Obi with Chelsea in 2013, and Samuel Chukwueze with Villarreal in 2021.
The match promises an exciting spectacle, highlighting the significant impact of Nigerian players in European football.
