Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman Wins CAF African Footballer of the Year

Ademola Lookman has been named the CAF African Player of the Year in a ceremony held at Palais Des Congrès de Movenpick in Marrakech after enjoying a stellar season with Serie A’s Atalanta and the Nigerian National Team.

This award is a well-deserved recognition for what has been a truly remarkable year for Ademola Lookman. The 27-year-old forward delivered a masterclass in the Europa League final last season, scoring a stunning hat-trick to power Atalanta to a commanding 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen. That unforgettable night marked La Dea’s first-ever European trophy in their 117-year history, and Lookman was unquestionably the star of the show. During the 2023-24 campaign, Lookman was in red-hot form, netting 17 goals and providing 10 assists across 45 appearances in all competitions. And it doesn’t stop there—this season, Lookman has carried that momentum brilliantly. He’s already scored 11 goals in just 19 matches, playing a crucial role in guiding Atalanta to the top of the Serie A table. They currently sit two points ahead of Napoli. 

On the international stage, Ademola Lookman has been just as impactful. During the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, the 27-year-old forward was a standout for Nigeria, scoring three crucial goals to help the Super Eagles reach the final. Though they fell heartbreakingly short, losing to Ivory Coast after a late strike from Sébastien Haller, Lookman’s performances didn’t go unnoticed—he was named in the tournament’s Best XI. What makes Lookman’s journey even more inspiring is how far he’s come. Once struggling to find his footing at clubs like Fulham, Everton, RB Leipzig, and Leicester City, he has now risen to the pinnacle of African football. Accepting the award for Africa’s Best Player, Lookman reflected on his incredible turnaround. “This award is a blessing,” he said, the pride evident in his voice. “To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible. 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.” 

Among the nominees were Morocco’s dynamic full-back Achraf Hakimi, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund’s prolific forward Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton’s rising Ivorian star Simon Adingra. Lookman now takes over the mantle from fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen. Over the years, the accolade has been a marker of African football excellence, with modern legends like Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Riyad Mahrez gracing its list of winners. Meanwhile, all-time greats Samuel Eto’o and Yaya Touré stand atop the leaderboard, each boasting a record four wins.