‘Turn your pain to power’: Ademola Lookman’s rise to the best in Africa
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Powerful acceptance speech for best male player at CAF awards matched specially designed agbada for occasion. Ademola Lookman couldn’t help reminiscing on Monday night. Crowned best male player at the Confederation of African Football’s award ceremony in Marrakech, thanks in large part to his stunning hat-trick for Atalanta in May’s Europa League final, the Nigeria forward’s acceptance speech referred to one of the lowest moments of his career.
![[Ed Aarons]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2017/12/14/Ed_Aarons,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It came while Lookman was on a season-long loan at Fulham from RB Leipzig in November 2020 and during injury time of a televised Premier League game against West Ham at the London Stadium. Trailing to a late goal from Tomas Soucek, the visitors were awarded a penalty in the final seconds and Lookman stepped up to take it – only to see his weak Panenka chip loop straight into the arms of Lukasz Fabianski. “I couldn’t even describe the devastation,” Lookman told the Guardian in an interview a few months later.
![[Ademola Lookman strikes to score the goal that sealed his hat-trick in Atalanta’s victory over Bayer Leverkusen in May’s Europa League final in Dublin]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/7ddd89a75e3751f6e5f669557ecf493a8d9d5f86/579_110_4121_2475/master/4121.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Having finally found a home in northern Italy after moving to Atalanta on a permanent deal from Leipzig in August 2022, Lookman could afford to reflect on how things have changed for him after collecting his award wearing a specially designed agbada – the traditional robe worn by Yoruba men. “To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible,” he said. “Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world and fast-forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa.
