Expectedly, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman scooped the
Africa Player of the Year award at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco on
Monday night, less than 33 months after winning his first cap for Nigeria at
international level.
The 27-year-old won the FIFA U17 World Cup with
England before committing his future to Nigeria, and helped steer the Super
Eagles to the runner-up position at the 34th Africa Cup of
Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire earlier this year. Also, he was key to Italian
side Atalanta FC winning the UEFA Europa Cup last season, and this year, has
scored 11 goals and notched five assists for the same club in 18 games across all
competitions.
Lookman’s triumph was the big cake for Nigeria
following goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie’s retention of the Goalkeeper of the
Year award, and the Super Falcons again winning the Women’s National Team of
the Year award as they did last year.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, MON and Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member, Mr. Amaju Pinnick,
OFR were among the distinguished guests at the Palais des Congrés, as FIFA
President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe handed the
glittering marble to effervescent forward Lookman.
Pinnick was particularly joyous. As President of NFF,
he made several attempts to get the player to commit to fatherland before the
forward capitulated, and eventually won his first cap in the 2022 FIFA World
Cup final round, first leg clash with Ghana’s Black Stars in Kumasi on 25th March
2022, which ended scoreless.
Gusau, who collected the Women’s National Team of the
Year award on behalf of the Falcons, dedicated the prize to Nigeria’s First
Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, and pledged that his administration will continue
to support women’s football in all its ramifications.
Nigeria’s five-time Olympian and Olympic
bronze-medallist Mary Onyali, former Nigeria international striker Obafemi
Martins and 1996 Olympic women’s long jump gold winner Chioma Ajunwa-Oparah
were among the stars of the night as they presented awards.
Four Super Falcons, namely Michelle Alozie, Osinachi
Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade and Asisat Oshoala made the CAF Best 11 Women for
2024, while last year’s Player of the Year winner Victor Osimhen and new King
Lookman made the Best 11 Men roster.
THE AWARD WINNERS:
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola
Lookman (Nigeria)
Women’s Player of the Year Barbra
Banda (Zambia)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse
Faé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia
Boumehdi (TP Mazembe; Moroccan)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen
Williams (South Africa)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year:
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen
Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa)
Women’s Interclub Player of the
Year: Sanâa Mssoudy (AS FAR/Morocco)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine
Camara (Senegal)
Women’s Young Player of the Year:
Doha El Madani (AS FAR/Morocco)
Men’s National Team of the Year:
Côte d’Ivoire
Women’s National Team of the Year Super
Falcons of Nigeria
Men’s Club of the Year: Al
Ahly (Egypt)
Women’s Club of the Year TP
Mazembe (DR Congo)
Goal of the Year: Mabululu
(Goal for Angola against Namibia)
Best Referee (Women): Bouchra
Karboubi (Morocco)
Best Referee (Men): Elvis
Guy Nguegoue (Cameroon)
Best 11 Women:
Andile Dlamini; Michelle Alozie; Karabo Dhlamini; Osinachi Ohale; Lebohang
Ramalepe; Linda Motlhalo; Rasheedat Ajibade; Ghizlane Chebbak; Barbra Banda;
Asisat Oshoala; Tabitha Chawingwa
Best 11 Men:
Andre Onana; Achraf Hakimi; Khalidou Koulibaly; Chancel Mbemba; Mohammed Kudus;
Sofyan Amrabat; Franck Kessie; Yves Bissouma; Mohamed Salah; Victor Osimhen;
Ademola Lookman
Outstanding Achievement Award: President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (Egypt) and; President Paul Biya (Cameroon)
PHOTO 2: King Ademola Lookman!
PHOTO 1: Nnadozie
receiving her award from Fathia Lasiri
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