Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman etched his name in African football history by winning the prestigious 2024 CAF Player of the Year award. The glittering ceremony, held in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday, also saw Nigeria’s Super Falcons clinch the Women’s National Team of the Year award, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie retained her Goalkeeper of the Year title, cementing Nigeria’s dominance on the continental stage.
Lookman’s victory marks him as the seventh Nigerian to claim Africa’s top football honor, continuing a proud legacy. His win follows Victor Osimhen’s triumph in 2023, showcasing Nigeria’s remarkable consistency in the category. The 26-year-old Atalanta striker had a stellar year, spearheading Nigeria to their eighth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in February with three goals and two assists. His hat-trick in May also led Atalanta to UEFA Europa League glory against Bayer Leverkusen.
This season, Lookman has been in unstoppable form, netting 11 goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions, including a stunning goal against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League. His competitors for the award included Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
Lookman’s triumph lifts Nigeria’s tally of CAF Player of the Year titles to seven, surpassing Ivory Coast. Past Nigerian winners include Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023). Only Cameroon, with 11 titles, has more.
In the women’s category, Chiamaka Nnadozie showcased her brilliance once again, winning her second consecutive Goalkeeper of the Year award. Despite narrowly missing out on the Women’s Player of the Year title to Zambia’s Barbara Banda, Nnadozie’s contribution to Nigeria’s qualification for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year absence was pivotal.
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The Super Falcons added another feather to their cap by retaining the Women’s National Team of the Year award. Their consistent performances solidified their position as Africa’s top-ranked women’s team according to FIFA. Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau accepted the award, dedicating it to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu.
However, the Super Eagles fell short in the Men’s National Team of the Year category, losing to AFCON champions Ivory Coast. In the club categories, Egypt’s Al Ahly was named Men’s Club of the Year, while TP Mazembe of DR Congo claimed the women’s crown ahead of Nigeria’s Edo Queens.
The night also celebrated rising stars, with Senegal’s Lamine Camara retaining the Men’s Young Player of the Year award and Egypt’s Doha El Madani winning the women’s equivalent. South Africa’s Ronwen Williams completed a double triumph by winning both the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year awards, while Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy took home the women’s interclub honor.
