Ademola Lookman, Super Eagles winger, has been crowned 2024 CAF men’s ‘Player of the Year.’
The 27-year-old was announced the winner of the gong at the gala held in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday.
Lookman garnered the highest votes to defeat Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams and Serhou Guirassy to win the coveted individual prize for male African footballers.
The Atalanta winger followed the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the prize in 2023.
The last time Nigerian players won consecutive CAF men’s best player prizes was over 27 years ago. Nwankwo Kanu had won the award in 1996 then Victor Ikpeba claimed the gong the following year.
READ ALSO: Tinubu congratulates Lookman, Nnadozie, Super Falcons on CAF awards
Lookman had an impressive 2023/24 season for both club and country. The winger scored 17 goals and provided 11 assists in all competitions last season for Atalanta, which retained its status as one of the best in Serie A.
He scored a hattrick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, winning Atalanta’s first-ever European title.
Lookman was one of Nigeria’s best players at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire. He scored three goals as the Eagles won silver at the tournament. He was also named in the competition’s best XI alongside captain Willian Troost-Ekong.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda beat Chiamaka Nnadozie to the women’s best player prize.
However, Nnadozie claimed the Golden Glove as the best goalkeeper for the second year in a row. The Super Falcons are named the women’s national team of the year.
.
