Ademola Lookman, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons have emerged as winners at the CAF Awards, Soccernet.ng reports.
Super Eagles and Atalanta winger Lookman clinched the 2024 African Men’s Footballer of the Year at the CAF Awards which was held in the Moroccan city of Marrakech on Monday night, 18 December.
Lookman won the biggest African individual prize by beating stern competition from Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi, 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner with Ivory Coast Simon Adingra, towering Guinean forward Serhou Guirassy and brilliant South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Speaking shortly after scooping the award, Lookman said: “To be recognised as the best player in Africa is incredible.”
When the stars align, they spell 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧. 🌟
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 16, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen, your Men’s Player of the Year! 🏆#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/xtHxJozThj
Ademola Lookman’s CAF Men’s Footballer of the Year victory: Reviewing his journey and exploits
It has been a spectacular journey for Ademola Lookman in 2024, one which strongly positioned him for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
The contributions of the 27-year-old for both club and country has been nothing short of exceptional, as he notched up 28 goals and 12 assists so far in 2024.
Lookman played a starring role in the Super Eagles’ march to the final of the 2023 AFCON, scoring three goals and providing one assist along the way.
The former Leipzig man scripted history by becoming the first player ever to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, scoring all three goals in the victory over Bayer Leverkusen to help Atalanta clinch their first European title since its founding in 1907.
With that feat, he also became the only player to bag a hat-trick in a one-legged Men’s European final since Pierino Prati in 1969.
Lookman’s scintillating heroics pushed him to become the first Atalanta player to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or. He finished in 14th place, becoming one of few highest-ranked Nigerian players in the global individual award ceremony.
Ademola Lookman joins an iconic list of former CAF Player of the Year winners from Nigeria
Legendary Nigerian players have been recognised in this biggest individual award category in Africa over the years.
On this platform, quite a number of former and present Super Eagles stars have mounted the podium of greatness, earning crucial recognition for their exceptional performances and contributions for club and country in the year under review.
With his latest triumph at the CAF 2024 awards, Lookman has joined an illustrious list of Nigerian players who previously lifted the coveted prize.
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- Rashidi Yekini – 1993
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- Emmanuel Amuneke – 1994
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- Victor Ikpeba – 1997
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- Nwankwo Kanu – 1996 & 1999
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- Victor Osimhen – 2023
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- Ademola Lookman – 2024
Super Eagles fall short but Super Falcons reign supreme
The Super Eagles of Nigeria were nominated in the Men’s National Team of the Year category. However, they fell short of the mark, as the Ivorian AFCON triumphant team emerged as the winners of the Men’s National Team of the Year.
Nonetheless, Nigeria were not to be denied the second time, as the Super Falcons clinched the Women’s National Team of the Year prize ahead of Banyana Banyana of South Africa and the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco.
And for the second time in a row, Chiamaka Nnadozie took home the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. The Paris FC shot-stopper beat Khadija Er-Rmichi of Morocco and Andile Dlamini of South Africa to scoop the award.
