Atalanta and Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was crowned men’s 2024 CAF Footballer of the Year in Marrakech at the expense of Morocco international Achraf Hakimi.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda collected the women’s prize after helping the Orlando Pride clinch the NWSL Championship, scoring the winner in the final against Washington Spirit last month.
Lookman, 27, scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in May. He becomes the second Nigerian footballer in as many years to win the award after Victor Osimhen, now of Galatasaray, won it in 2023. It’s the first time Nigeria has had back-to-back men’s winners since Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997).
Lookman, who grew up in south London and has also played for Everton, RB Leipzig, Leicester City and Fulham, began the year as a losing finalist to hosts Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was the only African player to be nominated for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or and finished in 14th place in the rankings.
Morocco captain Hakimi was favourite to win locally, however, and the auditorium at the Palais d’Congres started to empty before Lookman started his acceptance speech.
“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible,” said…
