Ademola Lookman has had a fantastic 12 months, resulting in him being named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh.
It has been a memorable year for the Nigerian. He was named in the team of the tournament at February’s Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and helped his team reach the final before losing to the Ivory Coast.
He then scored a hat trick as Atalanta comfortably beat Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 in the Europa League final, ending their unbeaten streak in all competitions.
His league record last season was impressive: 18 goals and assists in 22 starts. But this season he has reached a different level, scoring eight goals and getting four assists in just 11 league starts.
Lookman’s brilliant form over the last season led to him finishing 14th in the Ballon d’Or rankings, the only African player to make the list.
He was the clear favourite to win the African Football of the Year award this year, with his competition being Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and South African Ronwen Williams.
Victor Osimhen won the award in 2023, and Lookman winning this year means that a Nigerian player has won in two consecutive years.
The 27-year-old’s rise over the last two years has been phenomenal, and with Atalanta leading the Serie A table currently, this season could yet be his best so far.
