Ademola Lookman wins CAF African Footballer of the Year

Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman has been named the African Player of the Year at the prestigious 2024 Confederation of African Football Awards.

The announcement was made during a glittering ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, celebrating the finest talents in African football.

The Atalanta forward had a sensational year, dazzling fans with his incredible skill, blistering pace, and clinical finishing.

Lookman was instrumental in both his club’s success in Serie A and Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

His standout performances, including crucial goals in the UEFA Europa League and consistent brilliance in domestic competitions, solidified his position as one of Africa’s brightest stars.

Lookman edged out fierce competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to claim the coveted award.

Lookman, 27, scored a hat trick in the Europa League final to earn the Serie A club their first-ever European silverware, and only the second major trophy in their 117-year history.

The former RB Leipzig, Leicester and Fulham forward also scored three times as Nigeria reached the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were edged out by Sebastian Haller’s late goal for the Ivory Coast in the final.

Lookman scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season and has made a similarly productive start to this campaign, finding the net 11 times in 19 club games as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team sit two points clear of Napoli at the summit of Serie A.

“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible,” Lookman said as he picked up the trophy.

“Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”

The other nominees for the gong were Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton’s Ivorian winger Simon Adingra.

Lookman succeeds fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen as the winner of the prestigious award, which was first handed out officially by CAF in 1992.

Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang and Riyad Mahrez have all claimed the prize in recent years. Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Toure share the record for the most wins, each picking up the award four times.