David GOMBE
Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman has been named as the CAF Player of the year 2024.
Lookman was named the men’s player of the year at the awards gala held on Monday in Morocco.
To win the accolade, he beat award Afcon winner Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
It is the first time Nigeria has had back-to-back winners in the Men’s award since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were honoured almost three decades ago.
At the 2023 Afcon that was held in Ivory Coast this year, Lookman scored 3 goals and was named in the Afcon XI as well as helping his club lift the UEFA Europa League scoring a hattrick in the final and was named the player of the competition.
Meanwhile, Zambia striker Babra Banda took the women’s player of the year gong.
This year she took the National Women’s Soccer League season in the United States by storm as she helped Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship, scoring the decisive goal in the final against Washington Spirit.
Banda scored a hat-trick for Zambia at Paris Olympics 2024 was her third in Olympic Games football, an all-time record in the competition, elevating her to among the greats to have played the game.
She also became the first player from Africa to be included in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2024.
Ronwen Williams of Mamelodi Sundowns and South Africa took home two prizes the Goalkeeper of the year and Interclub Player of the Year but missed out on the CAF XI with Andre Onana of Cameroon and Manchester United chosen in goal.
All the 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: Chimaka 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 vs Namibia (Afcon 2023)
