On May 9, 2024, the stage is set for a potentially historic Europa League final, as three Nigerian players aim for glory at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland on May 22. Victor Boniface and Nathan Tella will be in action for Bayer Leverkusen, while Lookman hopes to guide Atalanta to their first-ever Europa League title.
In the second leg of the semi-finals on Thursday, German champions Bayer Leverkusen will host Roma at the BayArena. Leverkusen, who took a commanding 2-0 lead in the first leg at Stadio Olimpico, are favorites to secure their place in the final. A win for Leverkusen would not only see them reach the final but also set a new record for the longest unbeaten streak, currently matched with Benfica’s European record.
Meanwhile, Atalanta, with Lookman in their ranks, face French giants Marseille in the other semi-finals. Lookman and his teammates have an impressive unbeaten away run in Europe, including a remarkable 3-0 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
A win in the second leg at home would secure Atalanta’s place in the final.
A win in the second leg at home would secure Atalanta’s place in the final.If both Leverkusen and Atalanta avoid defeat, it would mean that three Nigerians will be vying for honors in the final, guaranteeing that at least one Nigerian player will be crowned champion. Nigerian players have enjoyed relative success in the Europa League in recent years, with Samuel Chukwueze winning the tournament in with Villarreal and Victor Moses winning it twice with Chelsea
