Ademola Lookman Wins 2024 CAF African Player of the Year

Nigerian footballer Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year at the prestigious Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco.

The Atalanta forward’s exceptional year on the field has earned him the coveted accolade, following a series of standout performances that highlighted his incredible skill, speed, and clinical finishing. Lookman played a pivotal role in both Atalanta’s successful Serie A campaign and Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.

His remarkable achievements included vital goals in the UEFA Europa League and consistent brilliance in Italy’s top flight, firmly establishing him as one of Africa’s leading football stars.

In a competitive field, Lookman triumphed over notable nominees such as Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams to claim the prestigious title.

Earlier in the year, Lookman made headlines by securing 14th place in the 2024 Ballon d’Or standings. His crowning achievement came in May, when he became the first player to score a hat-trick in a UEFA Europa League final, leading Atalanta to a stunning 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen and breaking their 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions.

Upon receiving the award, Lookman dedicated his win to his teammates, family, and fans, expressing gratitude for their unwavering support throughout his career.

Other notable winners at the CAF Awards included Nigeria’s Women’s National Team, who were named Women’s National Team of the Year, and Senegal’s Lamine Camara, who was named Men’s Young Player of the Year for the second consecutive year.

The full list of winners is as follows:

• Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
• Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal)
• Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco)
• Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly FC (Egypt)
• Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (Congo)
• Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
• Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Msoudy (Morocco)
• Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
• Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams
• Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
• Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamiya Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
• Goal of the Year: Cristovao Mabululu (Angola)

The ceremony, which celebrated the finest talents across African football, highlighted the continent’s growing influence on the global stage.