Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman was tonight crowned as the best African player for 2024 by CAF.
Quella notte a Dublino… 🇳🇬✨
— Atalanta B.C. (@Atalanta_BC) December 16, 2024
That night in Dublin… 🪄👀
1/3 ⚽️ | @Alookman_ #CAFAwards2024 #GoAtalantaGo ⚫️🔵 pic.twitter.com/dB1flAtzRY
The 27-year-old Ademola Lookman thus succeeded compatriot Victor Osimhen as the CAF Player of the Year.
He beat four other nominees namely Achraf Hakimi (Morocco and PSG), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea and Borussia Dortmund), Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire and Brighton) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns) to the coveted award.
He is only the sixth Nigerian to be so recognised after Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Victor Ikpeba and Osimhen were so honoured.
‘Adebobo’ scored a historic hat-trick for Atalanta to win the UEFA Europa League in May.
It was the first major trophy for his Italian club.
He also scored three goals and provided an assist for the Super Eagles to reach the final of the 2023 AFCON in February.
He has maintained such blistering form that he was the only African to be nominated for this year’s prestigious Ballon d’Or, where he was eventually ranked 14th.
