Nigerian star Ademola Lookman has been crowned the Best Footballer of the year at the 2024 CAF Awards.
The Super Eagles player was announced the winner of the prestigious prize after beating Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
Lookman becomes the second Super Eagles player and Nigerian star to win the award in a second consecutive year after Victor Osimhen who won in 2023.
The winners are voted for by a panel of experts which includes members of Caf’s technical committee plus African media professionals, players and coaches.
Other high-profile footballers who won big at this year’s CAF Awards include Super Falcons’ goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, who won Best Women’s Goalkeeper of the year and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams who doubled his win by bagging Best Men’s Goalkeeper and Interclub player of the year.
While The Elephants of Ivory Coast won Best men’s National Team, their head coach, Emerse Fae won Best Men’s Coach. The Super Falcons of Nigeria were crowned the Best Women’s National Team.
After an impressive 2023-2024 season, Lookman, 27, was hot favourite to pick up the decorated African Footballer of the year prize for the first time in his career, testifying to his excellence and growth.
He played a key role in helping his Italian club win the first European trophy in their history with a memorable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen – making him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.
On the international level, Lookman was named among the Super Eagles team who finished as runners-up to Ivory Coast, hosts of the 2024 AFCON in February. He made history and a bold statement by scoring three goals at the tournament.
The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester City player was also the only African on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing 14th.
Lookman has again proved instrumental for Atalanta this season, scoring eight goals in Serie A to help his team go top of the table.
