Ademola Lookman Named 2024 CAF African Player of the Year

Ademola Lookman was honored as the 2024 CAF African Player of the Year during a glamorous awards ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16. The Nigerian forward, who plays for Atalanta, had a stellar season, scoring 22 goals and playing a pivotal role in Nigeria's impressive run to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

In his acceptance speech, Lookman expressed heartfelt gratitude, stating, “This award is not just for me but for all my teammates and everyone who has supported me. I am incredibly proud to represent Nigeria and African football on this stage. This recognition motivates me to continue working hard and achieving more.”

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe praised Lookman’s achievements and emphasized the importance of nurturing talent across the continent. “Ademola's success is a testament to the incredible potential within African football,” he remarked. “We must continue to support our players and invest in their development to ensure that we shine on the global stage.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino also attended the ceremony and highlighted the significance of African football in the world arena. “Football is about joy, happiness, and pride,” Infantino stated. “The progress we see in Africa is inspiring. We are committed to investing in African football to create more opportunities for players and fans alike.”

The ceremony recognized other outstanding talents in African football as well. Barbra Banda from Zambia was awarded African Women's Player of the Year, making history as the first Zambian to receive this honor. Emerse Fae of Côte d'Ivoire was named Men’s Coach of the Year for leading his national team to victory in the Africa Cup of Nations, while Lamia Boumehdi, who guided TP Mazembe to success in the Women’s Champions League, received the Women’s Coach of the Year award. 

The Men’s National Team of the Year went to Côte d'Ivoire, while Nigeria's Super Falcons were recognized as the Women’s National Team of the Year. Al Ahly was named Men’s Club of the Year, and TP Mazembe took home the title for Women’s Club of the Year. Ronwen Williams from South Africa was honored as Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, and Lamine Camara from Senegal received the award for Men’s Young Player of the Year.