As the clock ticks towards the much-anticipated CAF Awards 2024 ceremony, the football community is abuzz with speculation over who will walk away with the prestigious title of Africa Footballer of the Year.
The event, which will be held on Monday, December 16 at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, promises to be a spectacle of talent and pride.
Among the favorites, Achraf Hakimi from Morocco stands out. Having won the French league title and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League with Paris Saint-Germain, the dynamic defender has the added advantage of home support, with Marrakech hosting this year’s awards.
Hakimi’s contributions to the Moroccan national team have been nothing short of stellar, with a bronze medallion at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. If he lifts the award, Hakimi will make history as the first Moroccan to receive this honor since the triumph of Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Read more:
The Best Awards: FIFA Will Announce the Winners in Doha
Another name in the mix is Nigerian Ademola Lookman, who dazzled fans with a hat-trick in last season’s Europa League final, the first player to achieve such a feat. Lookman’s pivotal role in helping Nigeria secure silver at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January further strengthens his candidacy.
Joining this elite group are Simon Adingra, a key figure in the Ivorian team’s success in the AFCON; Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy, who enjoyed a standout season with Bundesliga club Stuttgart; and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, who is also in the running for Goalkeeper of the Year and Interclub Player of the Year awards.
Read more:
Luis Díaz Makes History Again with a Significant Market Value
Last year’s African Player of the Year, Nigerian Victor Osimhen, will be watching closely as his successor is crowned.
Historically, Cameroon leads the way in the Footballer of the Year awards, having won the title 11 times, starting with Roger Milla in 1976 and ending with Samuel Eto’o’s fourth triumph in 2010. Ivory Coast and Nigeria follow, each one with six awards to his name.
