Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has been named the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year. The 27-year-old Nigerian footballer was awarded the prestigious title at a glamorous ceremony at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
Lookman triumphed over tough competitors, including Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) to claim the honor.
This victory makes Lookman the latest Nigerian to win the award, joining past legends like Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023), marking Nigeria’s sixth win in the award’s history.
Lookman’s success comes after a stellar year, including a standout performance in the Europa League final where he scored a hat-trick for Atalanta, proving himself as one of Europe’s top forwards. On the international front, he was key in the Super Eagles’ second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scoring three goals.
The forward has also continued his impressive form this season, contributing 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta. Among his notable achievements is a crucial goal against UEFA Champions League giants, Real Madrid, further solidifying his reputation on the global stage.
