Chelsea defender Tosin Adarabioyo has congratulated Ademola Lookman after the forward was named 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year winner.
Adarabioyo took to his X handle to send his congratulatory message.
“My brother! THE BEST player in Africa. Well deserved. ❤️.”
Lookman succeeded Victor Osimhen as CAF Player of the Year award winner at the award ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.
He is now the sixth Nigerian, after late Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwanwko Kanu (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Osimhen (2023) to win the accolade.
The exciting forward helped the Super Eagles reach the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.
The highlight of his performance in 2024 was scoring all three goals as Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final.
Also, he was the only African who made the shortlist for the Ballon d’Or where he was ranked 14th.
By James Agberebi
13 Comments
Tosin, Siddon there dey look Lookman. Continue to look.
You go look taya.
Tosin had the chance to play for Nigeria but he blew it. We don’t need players who aren’t committed. Stay in your England Tosin. Someone like Eberechi Eze would have been a bigger star now if he was playing for Nigeria instead of warming bench for England. Lookman is only beginning to shine, his best is yet to come.
Let us forget this adaribioyo or okoli they are just over rated, our best defenders in the team are the ones that volunteered to play for Nigeria on their own mindset, eg igelumba and Ajayi plus oyinbo wall, the likes of akpoguma and tuonariga na story, felix uduokhai who his begging is way now should even be considered before this stupid adaribioy.
If not that eguavoen is not a smart scout Benjamin Friedrich and Abel ogwuche of the last flying eagles team are both better than ekong and osho of recent, they can fit into our team without delay or multiple games, but eguavoen is looking for a Real Madrid and man United ofee defenders, lazy coach, late keshi brought in oboabona and omeruo to win afcon from no where. Siasia brought in apkam and ayodele from under 20 final to lead us to Olympic final, shaibu amudu etc all gave us unknown germs apart from this eguavoen always looking for easy way out to end up loosing, I repeat Abel ogwuche and benjamin Friedrich are both better than ekong and osho if eguavoen have eyes they don’t need to switch allergians.
Tochkwu Nnandi of zulte waregram is far better midfielder than Raphael onyedika and allahasan Yusuf , I will even play him ahead of old Ndidi, the guy is a solid strong ball recovery and intercepting midfielder his passes creativity can only be compared to that of onazi and the great oliseh, but eguavoen is waiting for Fulham to sign him first.
If we don’t create our own from durst we will never replicate the 1994 golden generation. Onuche ugbelu and tom dele bashiru are surpose to be in our midfield by now, interms of creativity, ball control, classic passes they are both better than Frank and Ndidi who have nothing to offer rather than running and making red tackles, passes are awkward.
Totally agree with your submission @Collins.
@Collins id… I always knew you know your football… it’s easy to pick out someone who played the game from a crowd simply by comments. I agree 100% with all your submissions… especially the line about Toochukwu Nnadi… boy is a proper midfielder. Immediatey after Argentina U-20 WC last year… I was sold on him.
@collin
Respectfully, I totally disagree with your submission on the u20 players you’ve mentioned. There are levels to football. There is a reason why onuachu has yet to make significant impact in prem despite his exploit in Belgium and Turkish league. Look at Salah an Debryna two of the greatest players presently couldn’t make it initially in prem.
Let these u20 players try at least be playing top level football before comparing them with the establishment players we have
@Mercy… have you played some football and know what optics about a player speaks to their level? Do you want to tell me that if Toochukwu Nnadi is a player of about 95% of other African National teams, he wouldnt be a part of their national team setup? Yes there are levels to football and Rwanda just beat our SE… so can you explain how players plying their trade in Rwandan League and other subpar African leagues not at the level of S.V Zulte Waregem where Nnadi plays… were able to humiliate us at home? Should I remind you of Lesotho and Zimbabwe too? Most of you think football is just about how prestigious and popular the club you play is… Toochukwu Nnadi can play even now in our midfield and do a fantastic job! Word!!!
@jimmyball
Rwanda and Lesotho beating us is down to solely on coaching and not the ability of the players. Imagine a Lesotho coach boasting that they will beat Nigeria in the qualifiers. In this age of technology, a video analyst and tactically sound coaching will make the difference.
You have said it all
You made good points Collins. But I would have loved if you remove the hype from these new players. Or if you didn’t use they’re better.
Ekong was the best at afcon. Ajayi also did well. Because they had some off days does not mean they’re bad.
Moreover we have seen how these new players have come and fumbled. Even Lookman struggled at the early stages.
Moffi, onuachu etc are examples. Look at Boniface now. So let’s be careful with they are better statement.
Let the new guys come and fight for shirts.
Tosin must overcome his GenZ attitude if he must succeed in Club football and International. Lookman has set a standard not only in football but in Character. I am not a gay so anyone does not misquote me but I love Lookman as a person.
No doubt that the guys Collins ID mentioned are good players, we have seen numerous examples recently that international football at the highest level can dumbfound players that were hitherto rated highly. We all witnessed how Boniface wilted in the heat of international football.
So I think a gradual introduction into the squad is best, starting with evaluating them in a high profile friendly. Otherwise, we may get an unwanted nasty surprise if we rush this young players into the heat of battle.
@collins I totally disagree with you before onuachu start playing for Nigeria some people said he’s better than ighalo if iwobi also av 1 bad game u will hear something like nwakali is better than iwobi but reality iwobi is playing in the best league in the world week in week out but nwakali can’t nail a spot in a team that play in second division in Spain
So let allow those u mentioned to prove there self first cuz we av over 20m Nigerian players across the world and we will only pick the best national team is not where to develop players