NIGERIA: Lookman Wins CAF Player Of The Year Award, Nnadozie And Super Falcons Shine

By Onoja Baba, Nigeria  

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year at the prestigious CAF Awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.

The Atalanta forward’s triumph solidifies Nigeria’s dominance in African football, marking him as the seventh Nigerian to clinch the coveted title.

Lookman’s stellar performances in 2024 made him a standout contender. He was instrumental in Nigeria’s journey to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in February, contributing three goals and two assists.

His defining moment came in May, when he scored a memorable hat-trick to secure the UEFA Europa League title for Atalanta in their 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.

Lookman’s form has remained exceptional, with 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across competitions this season, including a remarkable goal against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

In a competitive field, Lookman edged out Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to take home the top honor.

His victory follows Victor Osimhen’s win last year, maintaining Nigeria’s impressive record in the category with seven Player of the Year titles.

Previous Nigerian winners include Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Osimhen (2023).

Only Cameroon, with 11 titles, holds a better record.

Meanwhile, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, continued her dominance by retaining the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second consecutive year.

Nnadozie, who plays for Paris FC, beat South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi.

Her outstanding performances, including helping Nigeria qualify for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year absence, secured her place as Africa’s best female goalkeeper.

However, Zambia’s Barbara Banda dethroned Asisat Oshoala to win the Women’s Player of the Year award, ending Oshoala’s reign after she won a record sixth title in 2023.

The Super Falcons added another feather to their cap by winning the Women’s National Team of the Year award, affirming their status as Africa’s top-ranked women’s team according to FIFA.

Nigeria Football Federation President, Ibrahim Gusau, who received the award on behalf of the team, dedicated it to Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.

Despite the Super Falcons’ success, the Super Eagles fell short in the Men’s National Team of the Year category, losing out to AFCON champions Ivory Coast.

Other notable winners on the night included: Men’s Club of the Year: Egypt’s Al Ahly, Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), Men’s Young Player of the Year: Senegal’s Lamine Camara and Women’s Young Player of the Year: Egypt’s Doha El Madani.

Others are: Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, who also claimed the Interclub Player of the Year title, Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy, and Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast).

We also have Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe) and Goal of the Year: Angola’s Cristovao Mabululu.

The 2024 CAF Awards once again showcased African football’s rising stars and celebrated a year of extraordinary achievements, with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and the Super Falcons leading the way.