• Nnadozie leads Nigeria’s charge in women’s categories
By JOE APU
All eyes are on Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman as he is set to emerge a frontrunner for the prestigious African Player of the Year title at the 2024 CAF Awards, set to take place tonight at the Palais des Congrés in Marrakech, Morocco.
Lookman’s stellar year has been marked by critical performances for both club and country. His three goals and two assists propelled Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in February 2024, while his hat-trick for Italian side Atalanta FC secured their UEFA Europa League triumph over Bayer Leverkusen in May. So far this season, Lookman has registered 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances, including a crucial goal against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
In comparison, Lookman’s rivals, including Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, fall short in terms of achievements. While Adingra played a key role in his country’s AFCON victory, his club record with Brighton in the English Premier League lacks the same impact.
Victory for Lookman would elevate Nigeria to sole second place in the all-time standings for Men’s Player of the Year titles, surpassing Ivory Coast. Nigeria’s previous winners include Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996, 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997), and Victor Osimhen (2023).
In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is a leading contender for Women’s Player of the Year. The Paris FC goalkeeper was instrumental in Nigeria’s qualification for both the 2024 Olympics and the upcoming AFCON. She is up against Morocco’s Sanâa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Barbra Banda. Nnadozie also aims to retain her Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year title, with South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi also in the running.
Other Nigerian contenders ae Chiamaka Okwuchukwu who is nominated for Women’s Young Player of the Year, while Edo Queens are shortlisted for Women’s Club of the Year. The Super Eagles and Super Falcons are also in contention for Men’s and Women’s National Team of the Year, respectively.
The 2024 CAF Awards promises to be an exciting night for Nigerian football, with the potential for Lookman and Nnadozie to follow in the footsteps of past double winners like Nwankwo Kanu and Mercy Akide-Udoh (1999), and Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala (2023).
Award Categories
Men’s Player of the Year
Women’s Player of the Year
Men’s Coach of the Year
Women’s Coach of the Year
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
Men’s Young Player of the Year
Women’s Young Player of the Year
Men’s National Team of the Year
Women’s National Team of the Year
Men’s Club of the Year
Women’s Club of the Year
Goal of the Year.
