Ademola Lookman Crowned African Football Player Of The Year 2024.
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been named the African Football Player of the Year 2024 at a grand ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday, 12th December 2024. The 27-year-old, who plays for Atalanta FC and the Nigerian national team, received the prestigious trophy from FIFA President Gianni Infantino after being warmly embraced by CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Lookman succeeds his compatriot, Victor Osimhen, who won the award last year, continuing Nigeria’s dominance in African football. Dressed in a striking bottle-green Yoruba aso oke with agbada, Lookman captivated the audience as he delivered his acceptance speech in Yoruba before acknowledging the support of his parents, who proudly accompanied him on the red carpet.
The night was a mixed bag of emotions for Nigerian fans. While Lookman clinched the top male honour, hopes of a repeat double victory were dashed as Chiamaka Nnadozie narrowly missed out on the Women’s Player of the Year Award. The Super Falcons’ star goalkeeper, however, retained her title as Best Goalkeeper for the second consecutive year.
The Women’s Player of the Year went to Algeria’s Barbra Banda, but the Super Falcons claimed the Best Women’s Team Award. In the men’s category, Ivory Coast’s Elephants won the Best Team Trophy, while South Africa’s Ronwen Williams claimed two awards: Best Goalkeeper and Interclub Men’s Player of the Year.
Other notable winners included Senegal’s Lamine Camara, who was named Young Player of the Year, and Morocco’s Sanna Mssoudy, who won the Interclub Women’s Player of the Year Award.
In a historic first, CAF introduced the Presidential Awards to honour heads of state for their contributions to football. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Cameroonian President Paul Biya were recognised, with their awards accepted by their respective Ministers of Sports.
The evening featured entertainment from Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz and Morocco’s Dystinct, alongside other performers, as a total of 21 awards were presented.
Ademola Lookman’s triumph underscores Nigeria’s continued prominence in African football, and his achievement will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of players.
