Did the Western Media Intentionally Overlook Lookman’s Europa Brilliance?

The stunning display of Super Eagles star Ademola Lookman in Atalanta BC’s UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen captured the attention of football enthusiasts all over the world.

This is not solely because the former RB Leipzig player scored a hat-trick during the match, marking him as the first player to achieve such a feat in a Europa League final but because UK media largely sidestepped his achievements, choosing instead to talk about all other elements of the game while diminishing his huge contributions.

Could this be an intentional act of racism from the UK media outlets as this is not the first time African footballers would be experiencing such?

What the UK Media has to say

England-born Ademola Lookman struggled to make an impact at Everton with just four goals in 48 games, earning him the label of a “flop.” He had a similar goal tally during a loan period at Fulham. After struggling there, he was loaned to RB Leipzig and slowly began to regain his form.

Lookman who started his football career at Charlton Athletic before moving to Everton made the man of the match to win Atalanta the Europa League. Even after he delivered a standout performance that ended Bayer Leverkusen’s unbeaten streak, Some UK media outlets have focused on his earlier challenges. For example, The Mirror called him an “Everton Flop” 

TNT Sports took its moments to sensationalize his tough moments at Everton rather than to glorify his record-breaking nights.

That is not all, despite playing a crucial role in Atalanta’s victory, Sky Sports highlighted another player and used a different player’s image for their social media coverage of Atalanta’s Europa League win. Leaving out one of the most important players in the game can be considered an eyesore.

How Nigerians reacted to the news

Nigerians took to social media to express their displeasure on how their homeboy, Ademola Lookman was demeaned by the Western outlets. Several football journalists were also quick to call out these media outlets.

The historic run of Lookman Ademola this season

Lookman became the standout star in Dublin, where his hat-trick led Atalanta to a 3-0 victory, handing the previously unbeaten German champions their first loss of the season.  His notable achievements this season include winning the Europa League with Atalanta, securing a silver medal at the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals and making one assist during the tournament, and receiving the Man of the Match awards at both the AFCON and the Europa League finals.

Thanks to his remarkable performance throughout the 2023–24 season, the Nigerian forward is now a leading candidate for the CAF Player of the Year award. With a total of 15 goals and eight assists for Atalanta this season, Lookman has firmly established himself as a top contender for the prestigious award, showcasing his exceptional talent and contribution to the team.