Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has made history by earning a spot on the final shortlist for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
This marks the first time the lookman has been included in the prestigious list, he will hope to replace current holder and compatriot Victor Osimhen.
Lookman, 27, played a pivotal role for Nigeria during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, where he scored three goals and registered one assist in seven appearances.
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His performances were instrumental in helping the Super Eagles reach the tournament’s knockout stages, with Lookman delivering some of his best displays on the continental stage.
In addition to his international success, Lookman also made waves with Atalanta in European club competitions. He scored a historic hat-trick in the final of the UEFA Europa League, a feat that further solidified his status as one of the top attacking players in Europe.
Lookman was named Atalanta Player of the Season for the 2023/24 season and was also included in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations Team of the Tournament and the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League Team of the Season.
Ademola Lookman in 2024:
🏆 Europa League
🌟 Europa League final MOTM
🌟 Finished 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings
🌟 Nominated for African Player of the Year
🌟 Nominated for Serie A Forward of the Year pic.twitter.com/VIAGE5xtoE— ESPN Africa (@ESPNAfrica) November 21, 2024
So far this season, Lookman has been in sensational form for La Dea, netting 11 goals and providing five assists from 18 appearances across all competitions. His consistent performances have helped Atalanta remain competitive in Serie A and Europe.
The race is intense, the votes are distributed evenly and we’re in for 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝. 👀
Ladies and gentlemen, your Men’s Player of the Year ̶T̶o̶p̶ ̶3̶ Top 5. 🌟#CAFAwards2024 | @SSFootball pic.twitter.com/LSgVlAMpra
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 12, 2024
Lookman will now battle for the coveted CAF Men’s Player of the Year award against several top footballers, including AFCON 2023 winner Simon Adingra, who was a standout performer for Ivory Coast, particularly in the final against Nigeria. Other contenders include French Ligue 1 star Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
The winner of the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year will be announced during the upcoming CAF Awards ceremony on Monday, December 16, in Marrakech, Morocco.
