On Monday night, Nigerian football star Ademola Lookman was honored with the prestigious Men’s CAF African Player of the Year award. The Atalanta winger received the accolade at the 2024 CAF Awards held at the Palais des congrès de Marrakech in Morocco.
Lookman, who placed 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, outperformed notable contenders including Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain) to clinch the award. This honor follows in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who won the award last year.
In his acceptance speech, delivered in both Yoruba and English, Lookman expressed his gratitude: “E kale, mo ki yin, Ese mo dupe. [Good evening, I greet you all, thank you, I’m grateful]. This award is a blessing to me and my family, I’m extremely proud of this achievement. God bless.” The 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) silver medalist was adorned in a traditional green ‘agbada’ as he accepted the award, which was jointly presented by CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
