Nigeria's Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Marrakesh. The 27-year-old Atalanta forward triumphed over strong competition, including Ivory Coast's Simon Adingra, Guinea's Serhou Guirassy, Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa's Ronwen Williams. Lookman’s win marks the second consecutive year that a Nigerian player has claimed the prestigious award, following Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023.
At the same ceremony, Zambian striker Barbra Banda made history by becoming the first Zambian to win the CAF Women’s Footballer of the Year award. Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride, topped the voting ahead of Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie.
The winners are chosen by a panel of experts, including members of CAF's technical committee, African media professionals, players, and coaches. Lookman’s exceptional performances throughout the 2023-24 season made him a standout candidate for the male award.
Lookman enjoyed a career-defining year, with a key role in Atalanta’s success. He was instrumental in securing the club’s first European trophy, scoring a memorable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. His achievement made him the sixth player in history to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975. Lookman’s contribution to the team’s triumph in the European competition was one of the standout moments of his career.
On the international stage, Lookman was a key figure for Nigeria in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast. He scored three goals and was named in the tournament’s team of the competition, helping the Super Eagles secure a runner-up finish behind the host nation.
Lookman’s consistent form also earned him recognition on the global stage, as he became the only African player to feature on the 2023 Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing in 14th place.
This season, Lookman has continued to impress with Atalanta, scoring eight goals in Serie A and helping the team climb to the top of the league table. His outstanding performances for both club and country have solidified his place as one of Africa’s top footballers, and his 2024 CAF award is a fitting recognition of his achievements.
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