Osamagbe Imadiyi
Ademola Lookman, a forward for the Super Eagles and Atalanta, has been named the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year. The 27-year-old won the coveted prize Monday in a lavish ceremony at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
To win the coveted title, the Nigerian player defeated fierce opposition from Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG).
Lookman’s triumph places him alongside legendary Nigerian football players like Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023) on the distinguished list of award winners.
He succeeds Osimhen, the 2023 winner, and his victory makes Nigeria’s sixth victory in the history of the award. The Atalanta player had an incredible season for his team and nation.
Notably, Lookman solidified his status as one of Europe’s top forwards with a spectacular hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final.
During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, he scored three goals and was instrumental in helping the Super Eagles secure a second-place finish.
In 18 games across all competitions for Atalanta this season, Lookman has maintained his outstanding play, tallying 11 goals and dishing out five assists. He further demonstrated his talent on the biggest stage with a pivotal goal against Real Madrid, the record UEFA Champions League winners.