Ademola Lookman is the African Footballer of the Year

Nigeria remains a leading player in continental football this year too. In fact, for the second time in a row it is a Nigerian who retains the title of African footballer of the year. A recognition that also closely concerns Italy.

The most prestigious individual award in African football for 2024 was in fact awarded by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) yesterday in Marrakech, Morocco – co-organising country of the 2030 World Cup – to Atalanta striker Ademola Lookman who “stolen” the title from his compatriot Victor Osimhen, who was crowned African Footballer of the Year in 2023.

Thanks to his amazing performances with the Super Eagles, who took second place in the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Bergamo club, dragged to the top of Serie A and the Europa League, with the historic hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen, the 27-year-old beat off the competition from other big names in African football, such as the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, the Ivorian Simon Adingra, the Guinean Serhou Guirassy and the South African Ronwen Williams, however awarded as best men’s goalkeeper and as interclub player of the year (South Africa and Mamelodi Sundowns).

And it’s no coincidence that Lookman was also the only player from the continent on the men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist this year, finishing 14th in the world.

Barbra African Band Player of the Year

For women’s football, the title went to striker Barbra Banda, the first Zambian woman to win the coveted award.

The 24-year-old from Orlando Pride (United States) stood out with her 53 goals in 60 appearances which put her in second place in the scoring charts, behind Temwa Chawinga of Malawi.

A record she achieved instead thanks to her performances at the Paris Olympic Games which consecrated her as the best African scorer in Olympic history.

At the awards ceremony in Marrakech, Nigeria was the female protagonist with Giocaka Nnadozie, playing for Paris FC, who retained the title of goalkeeper of the year, and with the entire national team, judged the best African women’s team of 2024.

Title which, for men, went to the winner of the Africa Cup of Nations, Ivory Coast, whose coach, Emerse Fae, won the title of Coach of the Year.

Among the many prizes awarded, it is also worth mentioning that to the Egyptians of Al Ahly, the best men’s club, and to the recent winners of the Women’s Champions League, the Congolese of TP Mazembe, the best women’s club, led by Lamia Boumehdi, judged in turn to be the best coach on the continent.

All the winners of the 2024 CAF Awards

Male Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria and Atalanta)

Female Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia and Orlando Pride)

Male Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)

Female Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

Male Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Female Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria and Paris FC)

Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)

Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco and AS Far)

Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal and Monaco)

Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco and AS Far)

National men’s team of the year: Ivory Coast

Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria

Goal of the Year (voted by fans): Cristovao Mabululu (Angola) – Angola v Namibia (Afcon 2023)