Ademola Lookman (Wandsworth, England; 1997) has been crowned the best African player of 2024. The Atalanta footballer surpassed the other four finalists in the vote: Adingra, Ronwen Williams, Achraf and Guirassy.
The Nigerian has won this award after a spectacular season at club level. With Atalanta, he won the Europa League scoring an impressive hat-trick in the final. He also reached the final of the Coppa Italia.
His performance at the national team level was also very good.. In the African Cup, Nigeria reached the final and he was key in the round of 16 and quarterfinalsscoring the two goals in the 2-0 win against Cameroon and the only goal in the 1-0 win against Angola.
He received this award by taking over the baton from his compatriot Osimhen, awarded in 2023, at the Marrakech Congress Palace.
Barbra Banda, best player
In addition to the men’s Ballon d’Or, other prizes were awarded. One of them, the women’s Ballon d’Or. This one went to Barbra Banda. The Orlando Pride soccer player, NWSL champion two months agosupera a Sanaa Mssoudy y Chiamaka Nandozie.
The Zambian, who arrived from China this year in the United States, represented a true revolution in the Orlando team. With 17 goals in 25 games, she finished second as the top scorer, only behind Chawinga (21 goals). Totally decisive in the playoffs, with a double in the quarterfinals, a goal in the semifinals and the only goal in the final. In the Olympic Games, his participation was more discreet, because although he scored a hat-trick against Australia and a goal against Germany, Zambia finished fourth in their group after losing all three matches.
Emerse Faé, surprise coach in the African Cup that ended up winning with Ivory Coast, took the prize for the technicians. Mabululu won Goal of the Year for his goal in the final and Lamine Camara won the award for Best Young Male. Of course, the Ivory Coast team also took home the award for Best Men’s Team. Al Ahly, from Egypt, was the Best team; and Ronwen Williams, the Best Goalkeeper. Onana; Achraf, Koulibaly, Mbemba; Kudus, Amrabat, Kessie, Bissouma; Salah, Osimhen and Lookman fue el Major once Masculino.
In the women’s football awards, the Nigerian team was the Best team; TP Mazembe, the Best team; Chiamaka Nnadozie, the Best Goalkeeper; Lamia Boumehdi, the Best Coach and Doha El Madani was the Best Young Female. Dlamini; Ohale, Ohlamini, Alozie; Chebbak, Ramalepe, Motlhalo, Ajibade; Banda, Oshoala and Chawinga was the Best Women’s Eleven.
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