Former Ghana international, Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, has voiced his support for Nigeria forward, Ademola Lookman, to claim the 2024 African Player of the Year (APOTY) award, despite the omission of Ghanaian star Mohammed Kudus from the prestigious list.
Lookman, a standout for Serie A side Atalanta and the Super Eagles, has caught Agyemang-Badu’s eye as a top contender for the title, with the former Udinese midfielder expressing admiration for the Nigerian’s consistent performances.
“Without a doubt, one of my favourite players, Lookman, has been outstanding for both his club and country. I fully support him to win the award,” Onetime Udinese midfielder, Agyemang-Badu, told Flashscore.com.
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Ademola Lookman’s impact on the international stage has been further validated by his 14th-place finish in the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or standings, making him the highest-placed African player in this year’s classification. His rise in global football underscores his exceptional season with Atalanta and the Nigeria’s Super Eagles, positioning him among the elite players worldwide and strengthening his bid for the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
The Confederation of African Football recently unveiled its 10-man shortlist for the continent’s top player, featuring stars like Lookman, South Africa’s Ronwell Williams, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba.
Surprisingly absent from the list, however, was West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus, who netted 14 goals and provided six assists across 45 appearances last season. Kudus’ performance had been instrumental in helping West Ham secure ninth place in the Premier League and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
While disappointed, Agyemang-Badu remains optimistic about Kudus’ future. “I was hoping he would make the shortlist, but there were also many outstanding players who did exceptional work in Africa last year,” he remarked.
“He’s still young and has plenty of opportunities to be crowned Africa’s best. He just needs to stay focused, keep learning, and continue growing. His time will come—it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
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Agyemang-Badu further noted the challenges Ghanaian players face in clinching the continental honour, pointing out the absence of a Ghanaian recipient since Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew was named Africa’s best in 1992. Other Ghanaians, such as Samuel Kuffour, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, and Dede Ayew, have all been nominated but narrowly missed the title.
Reflecting on the collective progress of Ghanaian football, Agyemang-Badu acknowledged the accomplishments of younger talents, such as Abdul Aziz Issah and John Antwi, both of whom are nominated for the Interclub Player of the Year. He praised the Ghana Football Association and Dream FC’s achievements, calling it “a great achievement for Ghana football, particularly for the Ghana Premier League.”
“I’m a very happy man. Ronwell Williams has done an excellent job, and any of the nominees could win. However, I’ll be cheering for my fellow Ghanaians. Regardless of the outcome, I’m incredibly proud of them,” Agyemang-Badu concluded.
