Nigeria and Atlanta Football Club forward Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.
In a ceremony held on Monday night, December 16, 2024, in Marrakesh, Morocco, co-football star occasion Zambian Barbra Banda also won the Women Footballer of the Year award.
Lookman is the second consecutive Nigerian to claim the award after Victor Osimhen in 2023.
He also becomes the seventh Nigerian to win the award after Nwankwo Kanu (two), Victor Ikpeba, Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, and Victor Osimhen.
The 27-year-old forward beat a number of African superstars, including Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, to win Africa’s prestigious football award.
The winners were voted for by a panel of experts, which included members of the CAF technical committee, African media professionals, players, and coaches across the continent.
The Nigerian, after picking the prize, expressed his gratitude for being recognized and promised to keep working hard for the African talents to be recognized across the globe.
“This award is a blessing; to be recognized as the best player in Africa is something incredible. Four years ago my career felt down, but now I’m here as the best player in Africa, so don’t let your failures stop your dreams,” Lookman said.
The awards were presented to the winners by the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, who appreciated the quality of talents that Africa produces and their contributions to the development of sports. He also used the same occasion to congratulate Morocco, which was recently confirmed as co-hosts for the 2030 World Cup.
Other winners of the 2024 CAF Awards
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria & Paris FC)
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco & AS Far)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal & Monaco)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco & AS Far)
Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
Goal of the Year (voted for by fans): Cristovao Mabululu (Angola), which was scored during AFCON 2023 in which Angola played against Namibia.
