Atalanta and Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was crowned men’s 2024 CAF Player of the Year in Marrakech at the expense of Morocco international Achraf Hakimi.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda collected the women’s prize after helping the Orlando Pride clinch the NWSL Championship, scoring the winner in the final against Washington Spirit last month.
Lookman, 27, scored a hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in May. He becomes the second Nigerian footballer in as many years to win the award after Victor Osimhen, now of Galatasaray, won it in 2023.
Lookman, who grew up in south London and has also played for Everton, RB Leipzig, Leicester City and Fulham, began the year as a losing finalist to hosts Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations.
He was the only African player to be nominated for this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or and finished in 14th place in the rankings.
Morocco captain Hakimi was favourite to win locally, however, and the auditorium at the Palais d’Congres started to empty before Lookman started his acceptance speech.
“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible,” said Lookman.
“Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”
GO DEEPER
Ademola Lookman on his Europa League heroics with Atalanta and scoring ‘for the streets’
CAF award winners in full
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria & Atalanta)
Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia & Orlando Pride)
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: Chimaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, Paris FC)
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly
Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe
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
(Photo Agency/Getty Images)
