Nigeria and Atalanta BC forward Ademola Lookman has been named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the recently concluded CAF Awards ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco.
Lookman, who delivered standout performances for both Atalanta and the Nigerian national team during the 2023-24 season, triumphed over strong competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund’s Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton’s Ivorian winger Simon Adingra.
The 27-year-old’s remarkable achievements last season included scoring a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, leading Atalanta to their first-ever European trophy and only the second major trophy in their 117-year history. Lookman also played a pivotal role for Nigeria, netting three goals as they reached the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were narrowly defeated by Ivory Coast following a late goal by Sébastien Haller.
Lookman finished the 2023-24 season with 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 appearances for Atalanta across all competitions. He has continued his strong form into the current campaign, with 11 goals in 19 games, helping Gian Piero Gasperini’s side maintain a two-point lead at the top of Serie A.
In the women’s category, Zambia’s Barbra Banda claimed the Women’s Player of the Year award after leading the Orlando Pride to an NWSL Championship title, scoring the winning goal in the final against Washington Spirit, and helping the Zambian national team achieve historic success last year.
Senegal’s Lamine Camara was named Men’s Young Player of the Year, while Morocco’s Doha El Madani received the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
Full List of 2024 CAF Awards Winners:
- Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia)
- Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Angola)
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Emersae Fae (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumendi (TP Mazembe, Congo)
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria, PSG)
- Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (ASFAR, Morocco)
- Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
- Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (Congo)
- Men’s National Team of the Year: Côte d’Ivoire
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal)
- Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco)
CAF Team of the Year:
- Goalkeeper: André Onana (Cameroon)
- Defenders: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Chancel Mbemba (Congo), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco)
- Midfielders: Franck Kessié (Ivory Coast), Yves Bissouma (Mali), Mohammed Kudus (Ghana)
- Forwards: Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
