Nigerian international Ademola Lookman became the first African to score a hat-trick in the Europa Cup final.

His goals helped Italian side Atalanta to end a 61-year trophy drought and while at it dismantling German champions, Bayer Leverkusen’s dream of an unbeaten season.

The final was played at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Wednesday evening, May 22, 2024.

A BBC report on Lookman's three goals read as follows: "He placed the opening goal in the top corner from Davide Zappacosta’s cutback.

"And his second would have lit up any European final, as he nutmegged Granit Xhaka before bending a fantastic shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

"Lookman's third was equally as good, a step-over beating Edmond Tapsoba before he fired into the roof of the net," the report added.

The fixture was Atalanta’s first European final and Leverkusen’s third.

Nigerians on social media have been celebrating Ademola's exploits in a season where he suffered two final heartbreaks.

He was part of the Nigeria squad that lost the AFCON final to Ivory Coast before losing the Coppa Italia final also. He was voted Man of the Match for the final.

Watch Lookman's three goals below:

Nigeria’s Lookman the hero as Atalanta stun Leverkusen in #UELfinal

Stunning hat-trick brings Atalanta first trophy in 117 years and an end to ‘Neverlusen’s’ unbeaten run. Struck twice inside the first 26 mins before sealing the win 15 mins from full-time.pic.twitter.com/a2Atl2yzff

— Oluwashina Okeleji (@oluwashina) May 23, 2024

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen had not lost in 51 games this season and were only two matches from perfection.

Leverkusen, whose story has been filled with amazing, dramatic comebacks, could not fashion another this time.

Thanks to Gian Piero Gasperini’s tactical masterclass, a wonderful pressing game and Lookman, Atalanta now have a second trophy to add next to the 1963 Coppa Italia in their cabinet in Bergamo.

With additional files from the BBC

SARA