BREAKING: Ademola Lookman Emerges African Footballer Of The Year
Written by News Desk on December 16, 2024
Monday, December 16, 2024, will go down as a historic moment in the annals of Nigerian football. It was a day the country made headlines in far away Marrakech in Morocco, scooping major individual and team prizes at the CAF Awards ceremony.
On that night, Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was crowned the African Footballer of the Year for 2024, capping off a glorious night for the country.
The Atalanta forward, still in sizzling form for Atalanta this season, beat South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, and Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy to win the prize.
Lookman was in impeccable form for Nigeria and club in the year under review, scoring a hat-trick as Atalanta won the Europa League earlier. He was also in the Team of the Competition for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) where he helped the Super Eagles to a second-place finish in Cote d’Ivoire.
His performances last campaign show him being named Atalanta’s Player of the Year for the 2023/24 season.
The crown comes about two years after he switched nationality from England to represent the Super Eagles.
Describing his latest accolade as “incredible,” the winger recalled how he joined the Super Eagles just about two years ago, reminiscing his struggles in the early part of his career.
“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world, fast forward to four years I am the best player in Africa,” the excited Lookman recalled.
“I want to say to the young children and young people watching this ‘Don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight and continue to fly’, God bless!”
He was not the only Nigerian who won a prize on the day! Super Falcons’ shot stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie also emerged as the Best Women’s Goalkeeper, retaining the prize she bagged last year.
The Super Falcons were crowned the Women’s Team of the Year while three Nigerians made it to the CAF FIFPro Women’s Best XI.
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