One of the Latins’ most popular sayings – Per aspera ad astra – claims that one must go through hardships to reach the stars, but this maxim cannot be generalized. Some people never experience hardships, some cope with them their whole lives, some reach the stars, and some can only dream of their warmth and shine. Yet, one man’s way was the epitome of the famous quote.Ademola Lookman and full list of winners at CAF Awards in MoroccoDoes anyone remember that Ademola Lookman once played at Fulham? Hardly. Even he probably forgot about that part of his life, or at least would have liked it. Okay, he probably remembers those days, but he undoubtedly tried to erase them from his memory.In fact, perhaps not even the whole eleven months he spent at Craven Cottage as Red Bull Leipzig loanee, but one particular night for sure – November 7, 2020. Fulham faced West Ham at London Stadium and were 1-0 down before they were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute. Lookman took the ball and tried to pull off “the panenka,” but the ball ended up in Lukasz Fabianski’s arms while the then-23-year-old forward was put to shame.In 2020, Ademola Lookman failed a ‘Panenka’ penalty for Fulham with his team down 1-0 in the 98th minute… 4 years on, and he’s the FIRST Player to ever score a hattrick in a Europa League Final. Fantastic.pic.twitter.com/8e2uxAIRd3— Africa Firsts (@AfricaFirsts) August 22, 2024 He finished that season in London with four goals by his name before moving to another loan, this time at Leicester, where his final tally was eight. Altogether, it was insufficient to convince the Germans that he was worth a chance. After all, England was supposed to help him grow, given that he’d lived there since he joined Charlton’s youth categories at 16.Yes, he was Nigerian, but football-wise, he was an Englishman. And then RB Leipzig decided to sell him to Atalanta. The Bergamo club had nearly reached the Champions League semifinals two years before, but an Englishman in Serie A? Not many of those who tried that “exotic experience” managed to shine on the Boot.The man who A-Demolished Leverkusen and his rise to gloryBut, as the famous quote says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and for Ademola, that step was Italy, Bergamo, Atalanta, and a man who lent him a hand – Gian Piero Gasperini. That experienced magician and “cunning fox” who could – sometimes it seems like that – transform a rock into a diamond converted Fulham’s ugly duckling into Atalanta’s beautiful swan.Ademola Lookman went from missing that season deciding penalty for Fulham in 2020 to winning the African Player Of The Year in 2024NEVER GIVE UP!! 🫵🏽 pic.twitter.com/0ekeOnfC7M— 𝐌𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐊 (@TheMahleek) December 16, 2024 Already in his first season at Stadio Atleti Azzurri d’Italia, he scored double-digit goals. The following campaign brought Ademola double-digit goals and assists, while his hat-trick in the grand final brought Atalanta their first European trophy. Since the beginning of the current season, Lookman has already netted 11 times in only 19 games, while La Dea “threw down the gauntlet” to the Serie A rivals and boldly entered the race for Scudetto.Four years after one of the most distressing nights in his career, Lookman tops the Italian league and plays in the Champions League with Atalanta while proudly carrying the title of the best footballer in Africa. Ademola Lookman overcame the hardships and reached the stars.COPPA ITALIA – Round of 16TuesdayJuventus – Cagliari 4-0 (1-0)/Vlahovic 44, Koopeminers 53, Conceicao 80, Gonzalez 89/Wednesday20:30 (1.25) Atalanta (6.50) Cesena (10.50)23:00 (1.37) Roma (4.80) U.C Sampdoria (9.00)Thursday23:00 (1.35) Inter (5.00) Udinese (9.00)***odds are subject to change***
