There was never any doubt that Ademola Lookman has been the most outstanding African player in this outgoing year.
He was not only outstanding for both club and country, he was also consistent in maintaining these very high standards.
And even more importantly, he has done all that without much fuss, drama or scandal, but rather with humility and respect for the next man.
He is the quintessential professional, who is always focused on the main prize and lets his football do the talking for him where it matters most – the pitch.
When the stars align, they spell 𝐀𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐥𝐚 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐦𝐚𝐧. 🌟
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) December 16, 2024
Ladies and gentlemen, your Men’s Player of the Year! 🏆#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/xtHxJozThj
Born in South London, he also conquered adversity to now be the shining star that he is.
It was a fact he did not fail to mention in his powerful awards acceptance speech – failing in front of the world and four years later, the best player in Africa.
The defining moments leading to greatness were the decision to change his international allegiance from England to Nigeria and joining ambitious Italian club Atalanta BC on a permanent basis after several loans stints across Europe.
Atalanta embodied his own long-held beliefs of hard work, team work, focus and humility and the results of this union are glowing and obvious in only his third season at the club.
It was not the dream beginning with the Super Eagles, who were also undergoing major changes after a shock ouster by the Round of 16 at the delayed 2021 AFCON in Cameroon.
However, both Ademola Lookman and the Super Eagles stuck to the task of finding their footing and two years later they were playing in the championship game for the 2023 AFCON.
Now as the first overseas-born Nigerian player to win the coveted CAF Player of the Year, he has made a strong case against ill-informed calls that the country’s players born in diaspora are not good enough or not committed to the national cause.
Ademola Lookman is proud of his Nigerian heritage and now in return, millions of Nigerians are equally proud of what he has achieved both as a person and a football player.
At 27, he is a man at the peak of his powers who the country will again call upon in the New Year to salvage a 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign that is in complete shambles, while the drive is to go all the way at the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, which is a year away.
It will also be a safe bet for you to put your house on Ademola Lookman keeping his crown as Africa’s No 1 star.
His Greatness is not fleeting.
