Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Atalanta star forward Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award winner.
Lookman was named winner at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday.
The forward beat off competition from home boy Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra of Côte d’Ivoire, Ronwen Williams of South Africa and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy.
He succeeds Super Eagles teammate Victor Osimhen who won the award in 2023.
The last time Nigeria produced back-to-back CAF Player of the Year winners was in 1996 and 1997 when Nwanwko Kanu and Victor Ikpeba won the award in respectively.
It has been an outstanding year for Lookman who kicked off 2024 by helping Nigeria reach the AFCON 2023 final, which they lost to Cote d’Ivoire.
Also Read: ‘This Is Something Incredible’ — Lookman Reacts To CAF Men’s Player Of the Year Success
Despite the disappointment of losing in the final, Lookman was named in Team of the Tournament.
He took his impressive form back to Atalanta and helped them to the Coppa Italia final which they lost 1-0 to Juventus.
But it was in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen that Lookman wrote his name in the history books, as he bagged a hat-trick in the 3-0 win against the Bundesliga champions.
It was the first time ever a player would score a hat-trick in the final of Europe’s second-tier club competition.
Following his superb performance, Lookman was nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or award and finished 14th. He was the only African who was nominated.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Barbra Banda finished ahead of Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie to become CAF Women’s Player of the Year award winner.
Nnadozie picked up Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and the Super Falcons won the Women’s National Team of the Year accolade.
By James Agberebi
26 Comments
Very well deserved, Ademola Lookman as CAF player of the year. Justice done!
Well merited and nobody can dispute the award given to Lookman and likewise Nnadozie. Congratulations to our heroes. Congratulations Nigeria.
Over to you NFF Ajęwomasan. You people haven’t decided on who to hire as the coach of the Super Eagles yet? Hmmm. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
Have we not celebrated this longtime ago? CAF decided to delay in awarding it due to reason best known to them because if you ask me, this the most obvious APOTY in history of the award, like nobody come close to ADEBOBO. Congrat LOOKMAN.
Very well deserved CAF player of the year award, Ademola Lookman. Justice done!
This will only help the increase the shame on Nigeria if the SE fail to qualify for the next world cup. How can someone explain if a team with the two most recent CAF players of the year fail to make it to the world cup. food for thiught
My Biggest Congratulations To Ademola Lookman Of Nigeria, Indeed 9ja Are Proud Of You Dear, Shalom.
My Biggest Congratulations To Ademola Lookman Of Nigeria, Indeed 9ja Are Proud Of You My Dear, Shalom.
Of course! Never was in doubt.
Congratulations and very well done Ademola Lookman. Onward and upwards my youth.
And a huge congratulations also to Nnadozie for winning the Best Women’s Goalkeeper Of The Year and to the Falconets of Nigeria for winning the CAF Women’s National Team of the year award. Kudos all round!
Now over to you NFF and the Govt to honour these award winners by investing HEAVILY into our sports and infrastructure, and overall governance going forward, so that we can keep up these standards or at the very least aspire to the same sort of standards moving forward.
Who get ear make e hear!
CAF played a fast one on publicity. They knew the winner would be ademola Lookman. They decided to heightened the tension by not reducing the number to three to suggest strong competition.
And probably sponsored a false press release from some news outlets to suggest Hakimi of Morocco.
All played well. It brought the attention on the event. It raised people’s tension and expectations.
Good one.
My tension was like l was watching a super eagles game. He looks humble, l hope he does go to the premier League. He was just too good to behold. What a blessing to the super eagles
He deserves it am proud of ademola lookman
It is not a breaking news .
Was there any other way?
With the Yoruba attire, stay stunting. Let the world know who you are
“pLaYing fOr SupEr eAglEs tUrnEd ADemOla LoOkMaNs cAreEr.” I was literally watching a video on bbc called “How a move to atalanta changed ademola lookmans career.”
Dele Bashiru is next. But if atalanta wins seria a, he should be in line again. Serie a seems like the destination for these Nigerians career, not premier league
I’m so happy for you.
Congratulations son we are proud of you indeed. Keep on breaking records we love you dearly
This was expected.
Congratulations to Lookman and very well deserved. The sky is your limit.And Well done Nnadozie for winning the Best Women’s Goalkeeper Of The Year and to the Falconets of Nigeria for winning the CAF Women’s National Team of the year award. Shame on NFF for owing these players wages and the Government has to do better to develop our football. Other players should sit up so they can win awards. Iheanacho could have won this award longer time ago with more effort. Our women can win the Wafcon next year.
A very Big Congratulations !!! to you Lookman. You have made history for yourself and Nigerians and have also made Nigerians proud!!!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations!!!
Congratulations bro! As a Nigerian, I strongly believe that you will be of good behaviour out there as a role model and public figure and you will use this award to redeem us from the shame and embarrassment that osimhen brought on it throughout his reign….
Lookman Ademola has made history, and what a way to do it—crowned as the 2024 African Player of the Year in a moment that felt like destiny had finally aligned. Watching him strut across that stage in his purely African attire, radiating pride and confidence, wasn’t just a win for him; it was a win for every Nigerian. The man didn’t just claim a trophy; he claimed a legacy, a shining example of what is possible when you embrace your roots and let your talent speak louder than doubts.
This isn’t just Lookman’s moment; it’s a message to every Nigerian player in the diaspora who might hesitate to choose the Super Eagles. Look at what’s possible when you believe. For those still undecided or wondering, Lookman’s achievement shows that Nigeria isn’t a dead end—it can really be a pathway to the pinnacle of personal fulfillment.
Now, let me share a secret wish. Picture this: Ashleigh Plumptre, three-quarters British, one-quarter Nigerian, stepping onto the stage to claim the African Player of the Year award for women. Just imagine her wearing a bold, jaw-dropping African attire, radiating confidence. The headlines would write themselves: “From Leicester to Lagos: Plumptre Takes Africa’s Throne!” The global buzz would be immense. A player with her unique blend of heritage, embracing her Nigerian identity and dominating African football—it would be a moment of pure magic. And let’s not forget, she’s only 25. Who says it can’t happen? Just my little wish. Smiles!
As we celebrate Lookman’s success, we also toast to Chiamaka Nnadozie, the unshakable force in goal, now recognized as the Best Goalkeeper in Africa. And, of course, the unstoppable Super Falcons, crowned the Best Team on the continent. These accolades are proof that Nigerian football is alive, thriving, and inspiring.
Lookman’s win is more than a trophy; it’s a statement, a turning point. It’s proof that the Super Eagles can be a team where greatness thrives, where dreams come true, and where the world takes notice. And who knows? Maybe, just maybe, he’ll come back again tomorrow to give us another crown. But for now, though, let’s revel in this victory, for it’s a testament to what Nigeria stands for: resilience, talent, and boundless potential. Long live Nigerian football!
Well done Ademola I thought they were going to rig it for Hakimi
Very well deserved
Alaafin Ademola!!!!
Aare ona Kakanfo Ademola Lookman.
Nigeria’s football general.
The APOTY had your name written all over it. It would have been daylight robbery to give it to someone else.
And huge congrats to Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Her colossal performances for club and country make her a fitting recipient for the coveted award. Anytime the Super Falcons have a game, I feel so calm when I see her between the sticks. I have to keep my BP meds aside. No need for them. She’s so good, sometimes I find myself wondering if we could use her in the SE….hahahahaha!
Congrats once again for a well deserved award!
Congratulations to Lookman.
Congratulations to Nnadozie and the entire Super Falcons. You all deserve it.
Congrats to the well-deserved Best, Lookman.
You have done well for yourself and the country.
Even prouder that we have back-to-back best. From Osimhen to Lookman. Nothing could be merrier.
We told them we no dey carry last from this part of the world, we’ve missed the APOTY for years, but we are back to dominate it now, I see lookman winning it next yr again bar any injury and osimhen aren’t done either.
Let the world know that we are back to dominate the APOTY again from both gender and guys WC is next.