- Lookman Becomes Seventh Nigerian to Win African Player of the Year
- Super Falcons Retain Women’s Team of the Year Crown
Nigerian football celebrated a landmark night at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, as Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie earned top honors while the Super Falcons retained their Women’s National Team of the Year title.
Lookman was crowned African Player of the Year, becoming the seventh Nigerian to win the prestigious award, following Victor Osimhen’s triumph last year. The Atalanta striker’s stellar year included leading Nigeria to their eighth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final with three goals and two assists, as well as a UEFA Europa Cup-winning hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen in May. Lookman has continued his fine form, netting 11 goals and providing five assists in 18 appearances this season.
His closest competitors for the award included Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
Nnadozie retained her Goalkeeper of the Year title after a remarkable year that saw her help Nigeria secure a place in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year absence. Although she missed out on the Women’s Player of the Year title to Zambia’s Barbara Banda, Nnadozie edged out South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi for the goalkeeper prize.
The Super Falcons were also recognized as Africa’s Best Women’s Team, cementing their status as the continent’s top-ranked side in FIFA’s rankings.
However, the Super Eagles fell short in the Men’s Team of the Year category, which was claimed by AFCON champions Ivory Coast.
Other Highlights from the 2024 CAF Awards:
- Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo), ahead of Edo Queens (Nigeria)
- Young Players of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal) and Doha El Madani (Egypt)
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)
- Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
- Goal of the Year: Cristovao Mabululu (Angola)
This year’s awards further solidify Nigeria’s dominance in African football, with Lookman’s victory taking Nigeria’s tally to seven African Player of the Year awards, second only to Cameroon’s 11 titles.
