Atlanta forward, Ademola Lookman missed out on an opportunity to be named among the few Nigerians who have won the UEFA Super Cup.

This follows their defeat to Real Madrid in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup at the National Stadium in Warsaw, Poland. Despite holding the Champions League winners to a goalless first half, Federico Valverde broke the deadlock early in the second half while Kylian Mbappe scored the second, his first on his debut.

The UEFA Super Cup is the curtain raiser of the 2024/25 European League season.

Recall, Madrid beat Borussia Dortmund 2-0 in the UCL final in Paris, while Atalanta stunned unbeaten Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in Dublin to lift the Europa League.

Ademola Lookman was the hero as he banged a hattrick in the finals of the Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen. He becomes the sixth player to do so in a European final and the first player in a Europa League final.

He also became the third Nigerian to score in the Europa League final after Alex Iwobi for Arsenal in 2019 and Joe Aribo for Rangers in 2022, both in losing attempts.

He could have been the fourth Nigerian to win the UEFA Super Cup if the Bergamo-based club topple the Spanish giants.

Nigerians who have won the UEFA Super Cup

1. Finidi George

The Super Eagles forward won the trophy with AFC Ajax as they defeated Real Zaragoza 4-0. The team won all European trophies the UEFA Champions League.

He joined Ajax in 1993 from Nigerian club Sharks.

2. Nwankwo Kanu

Nwanko Kanu was a teammate to Finidi during the glory days of the Dutch team.
The two-time African footballer of the year won the 1995 Super Cup alongside his compatriot, making them the first Nigerians to win the trophy.

3. Celestine Babayaro

Nigerian footballers in Europe were at their peak in the 90s. Babayaro became the second Nigerian to win the Super Cup when he helped Chelsea beat Real Madrid in the 1998 final, playing the 90 minutes.

As noted by Afrik-Foot, four other Nigerians have reached the final but lost: Chidi Odiah with CSKA Moscow in 2005, Julius Aghaowa with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2009, Victor Moses and Mikel Obi with Chelsea in 2012 and 2013.