.….takes over from Osimhen, year 2023 winner.
By Fatimah Alli
London-born Super Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 CAF African Footballer of the Year.
Lookman bagged the prestigious award amidst glitch and glamour at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
The 27-year-old Nigerian football star defeated competition from Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns) to clinch the prestigious title.
By this feat, Lookman has entered into the Hall of fame of Nigerian footballers who have won the award, joining legends such as Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023).
His win gives Nigeria the sixth victory in the award’s history, taking over the baton from Osimhen, the 2023 winner.
This season, Lookman has recorded an outstanding form with 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta.
Also, his remarkable contributions include a crucial goal against record UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid, further showcasing his quality on the biggest stage.
He equally played an important role in the Super Eagles’ march to a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, netting three goals during the tournament.
To cap it up, Lookman delivered a stunning hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final, a performance that cemented his reputation as one of Europe’s elite forwards.
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