by Okoeguale Adolor
Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, has been named the CAF Footballer of the Year for the past year.
Lookman was announced as the winner at an elaborate event in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.
The Atalanta star won the prize ahead of other strong contenders, includidng Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).
This victory places Lookman among the ranks of Nigerian football legends who have won the award, such as Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023). His win marks Nigeria’s sixth success in the award’s history, as he takes over from last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen.
In his acceptance speech, Lookman expressed heartfelt gratitude to Nigerians for their support. His first words were in his native Yoruba.
“E kaale Nigeria, mo n kin gbogbo yin. E se, modupe”
– Ademola Lookman’s first words as 2024 African Best is in Yoruba 🔥🔥🇳🇬🇳🇬#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/fZ4SYgrj2d
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) December 16, 2024
“E kaale Nigeria, mo n kin gbogbo yin. E se, modupe,” he said.
It has been an incredible year for Lookman, with exceptional performances for both club and country defining his 2024 campaign. He became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final since 1975, netting the three goals within 26 minutes for Atalanta against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman was included in the Team of the Year for the Europa League, and ended the season tallying 11 goals and five assists in 18 matches across all competitions. His highlights include a crucial goal against UEFA Champions League giants Real Madrid, further cementing his reputation as a top performer on the biggest stages.
On the international stage, Lookman played a pivotal role in the Super Eagles’ impressive second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, contributing three goals during the tournament.
The 27-year-old was ranked the 14th best player during the Ballon d’Or gala on October 28.
