[UPDATED] BREAKING: Ademola Lookman is African Footballer of the Year 2024 (Videos)

[UPDATED] BREAKING: Ademola Lookman is African Footballer of the Year 2024 (Videos)

Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.

The Super Eagles of Nigeria forward was declared the winner at a grand event held Monday night in Marrakech, Morocco.

He was adjudged the best ahead of South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, and Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy.

The victory therefore means the award remains in Nigeria after teammate Victor Osimhen won it last year.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda won the women’s prize after firing the Orlando Pride to the NWSL Championship, scoring the winner in the final against Washington Spirit.

Lookman, 27, scored a hat trick in the Europa League final to earn the Serie A club their first-ever European silverware, and only the second major trophy in their 117-year history.

The former RB Leipzig, Liverpool, Leicester and Fulham forward also scored three times as Nigeria reached the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were edged out by Sebastian Haller’s late goal for the Ivory Coast in the final.

Lookman scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season.

“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible,” Lookman said as he received the trophy.

“Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”

 

[UPDATED] BREAKING: Ademola Lookman is African Footballer of the Year 2024 (Videos)