Nigerian international, Ademola Lookman, has won the Confederation African Football (CAF)’s African Footballer of the Year award for 2024 at a ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Lookman saw off competition from Ivorian Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams to clinch the coveted award, which was hitherto held by Nigeria and Galatasaray striker, Victor Osimhen.
The 27 year old London born winger won the award after an electrifying campaign for both club and country.
The soccer sensation played a key role in helping his Italian club win their first European trophy in their history with a memorable hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen – making him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.
On the international scene, Lookman was named in the team of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, scoring three goals as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up to the hosts in February.
The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester City player was also the only African on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing 14th.
This season Lookman has again proved instrumental for Atalanta, scoring eight goals in Serie A to help his team top of the table and a total of 16 goal contributions thus far.
