The Nigerian, Ademola Lookman, was crowned “African Player of the Year” during the CAF Awards-2024 ceremony, which took place on Monday in Marrakech, succeeding his compatriot Victor Osimhen. National women’s Football also stood out with several awards won.
The Nigerian striker, author of a brilliant season, offered the Europa League to Atalanta by scoring a hat-trick in the final against the until then invincible Bayer Leverkusen of Xabi Alonso. He also reached the CAN-2023 final with the Nigerian Super Eagles.
Lookman also shone in his team’s last match in the Champions League, shaking the net for Real Madrid, who nevertheless emerged victorious in this confrontation.
Achraf Hakimi (PSG), the Ivorian Simon Adingra (Brighton), the Guinean Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) and the South African Ronwen Williams, goalkeeper of Mamelodi Sundowns, were also in the running for this prestigious Prize.
Among the women, the Zambian Barbra Banda was crowned player of the year. The first Zambian to win this Prize, Banda is coming off an exceptional season. Playing in the United States Women’s Soccer Championship, she helped Orlando Pride win the NWSL Shield and the championship, with a decisive goal in the final against Washington Spirit.
For her part, Moroccan Sanaâ Mssoudy, member of AS FAR, was crowned interclub player of the year. A consecration which crowns an exceptional season for the Moroccan player both for club and national team.
She was in the running for this prize with Lacho Flora Marta (Angola / TP Mazembe) and her compatriot Doha El Madani. The latter won the young player of the year trophy.
Aged 19, the young Moroccan player shone during the recent CAF Women’s Champions League which took place in Morocco, finishing as the competition’s top scorer with six goals. It represents real hope for Moroccan and African football.
For her part, Moroccan Lamia Boumehdi, winner of the Champions League with TP Mazembe of DR Congo, won the coach of the year prize for women’s football. Boumehdi wrote her name in golden letters in the history of African football by becoming the first woman to lift this African trophy. She also led TP Mazembe to the national title in 2024.
The Moroccan coach of AS FAR, Mohamed Amine Alioua was also a candidate for this prize.
Bouchra Karboubi was crowned African referee of the year.
In addition, the Moroccans Achraf Hakimi and Sofyan Amrabet appear in the men’s XI of the year, while Ghizlane Chebbak made a place in the women’s XI.
For its part, Al Ahly of Cairo, defending champion of the African Football Champions League, was named men’s team of the year, while Ivory Coast, winner of the last African Cup of Nations Nations at home, was designated men’s selection.
In the women’s category, TP Mazembe won the team of the year title, while Nigeria won the trophy for best African national team.
As for the CAF Excellence Award, it was awarded to the President of Egypt Abdel Fattah al-Sissi and the President of Cameroon Paul Biya.
LNT with Map
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