By Dianabasi Effiong
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman won the Africa Player of the Year award at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday night.
His victory comes less than 33 months after winning his first cap for Nigeria at international level. The 27-year-old won the FIFA U17 World Cup with England before committing his future to Nigeria and helped steer the Super Eagles to the runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year.
He was also instrumental in Italian side Atalanta FC winning the UEFA Europa Cup last season, and this year, he has scored 11 goals and notched five assists for the same club in 18 games across all competitions.
Lookman’s triumph was the big cake for Nigeria following goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s retention of the Goalkeeper of the Year award, and the Super Falcons again winning the Women’s National Team of the Year award as they did last year.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, and Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, OFR, were among the distinguished guests at the Palais des Congrés.
The FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, and CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, handed the glittering marble to effervescent forward Lookman.
Pinnick was particularly joyous. As President of NFF, he made several attempts to get the player to commit to his fatherland before the forward capitulated, and eventually won his first cap in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final round, first leg clash with Ghana’s Black Stars in Kumasi on 25th March 2022, which ended scoreless. Gusau, who collected the Women’s National Team of the Year award on behalf of the Falcons, dedicated the prize to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and pledged that his administration will continue to support women’s football in all its ramifications.
Nigeria’s five-time Olympian and Olympic bronze-medallist Mary Onyali, former Nigeria international striker Obafemi Martins, and 1996 Olympic women’s long jump gold winner Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah were among the stars at the award presentation. Four Super Falcons – Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Asisat Oshoala – made the CAF Best 11 Women for 2024.
Last year’s Player of the Year winner, Victor Osimhen, and new King Lookman made the Best 11 in the Men roster.
THE AWARD WINNERS:
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria).
Women’s Player of the YearBarbra Banda (Zambia).
Men’s Coach of the Year:Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire).
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe; Moroccan).
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa).
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria).
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa).
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanâa Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco).
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal).
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR/Morocco).
Men’s National Team of the Year: Côte d’Ivoire.
Women’s National Team of the Year Super Falcons of Nigeria.
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt).
Women’s Club of the Year TP Mazembe (DR Congo).
Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Goal for Angola against Namibia).
Best Referee (Women):Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco).
Best Referee (Men): Elvis Guy Nguegoue (Cameroon).
Best 11 Women: Andile Dlamini; Michelle Alozie; Karabo Dhlamini; Osinachi Ohale; Lebohang Ramalepe; Linda Motlhalo; Rasheedat Ajibade; Ghizlane Chebbak; Barbra Banda; Asisat Oshoala; Tabitha Chawingwa.
Best 11 Men: Andre Onana; Achraf Hakimi; Khalidou Koulibaly; Chancel Mbemba; Mohammed Kudus; Sofyan Amrabat; Franck Kessie; Yves Bissouma; Mohamed Salah; Victor Osimhen; Ademola Lookman.
Outstanding Achievement Award: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt) and; President Paul Biya (Cameroon).
