Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh.
The Atalanta forward saw off competition from Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
Lookman is the second consecutive Nigerian to claim the award after Victor Osimhen in 2023.
Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda made history as the first Zambian to win the women’s prize, finishing ahead of Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Lookman’s standout year
Lookman, 27, was hot favourite to pick up the award for the first time in his career after an impressive 2023-24 season.
He played a key role in helping his Italian club win the first European trophy in their history with a memorable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen – making him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.
On the international scene, Lookman was named in the team of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, scoring three goals as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up to the hosts in February.
The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester City player was also the only African on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing 14th.
Lookman has again proved instrumental for Atalanta this season, scoring eight goals in Serie A to help his team go top of the table.
2024 Caf Awards winners
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria & Atalanta)
Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia & Orlando Pride)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria & Paris FC)
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco & AS Far)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal & Monaco)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco & AS Far)
Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
Goal of the Year (voted for by fans): Cristovao Mabululu (Angola) – Angola v Namibia (Afcon 2023)
