Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger and Atalanta star, has been named the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, solidifying his place as Africa’s best footballer for the year.
The announcement was made during the CAF Awards gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.
The 27-year-old emerged victorious, beating a strong shortlist that included Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams, and Serhou Guirassy.
Lookman’s triumph marks back-to-back wins for Nigeria in the coveted category, following Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023.
This is the first time in over 27 years that Nigerian players have clinched the award in consecutive years, a feat last achieved by Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997).
Lookman enjoyed a remarkable 2023/24 season for both club and country. He scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists for Atalanta in all competitions, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s standout performers.
The winger’s crowning moment came in the Europa League final, where he netted a hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen to secure Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
On the international stage, Lookman was instrumental in Nigeria’s silver-medal run at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire.
He scored three goals during the tournament and earned a spot in the Best XI, alongside Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong.
In the women’s category, Babra Banda of Zambia edged out Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie to claim the Women’s Player of the Year award.
However, Nnadozie, who had an outstanding year, was awarded the Golden Glove as Africa’s best goalkeeper for the second consecutive year.
