Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 African Player of the Year. The CAF African Footballer of the Year award was presented to him during a ceremony held in Morocco.
Lookman delivered outstanding performances this season, both for his national team and Atalanta. His most notable achievement came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he scored a hat-trick. This led his team to a 3-0 victory, securing only the second major trophy in the club’s history.
Currently, Atalanta sits at the top of Serie A, one of Europe’s top leagues, and Lookman’s contributions have been significant. This season, he has scored 11 goals in 19 matches and continues to improve, adding to an already impressive career.
For Nigeria, Lookman was one of the key players who helped the team reach the final of last year’s Africa Cup of Nations. Although they lost the trophy to Côte d’Ivoire, the Nigerian star showcased remarkable performances throughout the tournament.
Among the nominees were players with impressive performances, such as Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, Simon Adingra from Côte d’Ivoire, Serhou Guirassy from Guinea, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa. However, Lookman’s exceptional form this year allowed him to surpass them all.