Algeria Football– The lists of candidates for the awards for the best footballers in Africa in 2024 give pride of place to Moroccan players. Among the most notable names are Achraf Hakimi, the defender of Paris Saint-Germain (26 years old), and Sofiane Rahimi, the star striker of the Emirati club Al-Ain (28 years old). The two Moroccan stars will face eight other candidates to win the prestigious African Ballon d’Or prize. In addition to these two players, the list of nominees for the title of best young player in Africa includes Bilel Khénous (20 years old), midfielder of Leicester City, and Elias Ben Srir (19 years old), young talent of AS Monaco. In addition, the goalkeeper of Raja de Casablanca, Munir Mohamedi (35 years old), is also one of the contenders for the award for the best goalkeeper on the continent.
Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi shone throughout last season, distinguishing themselves in numerous competitions and registering impressive performances. However, the road to victory will not be easy, as other players are also emerging as serious contenders to land the Best African Player award. Among them, Atalanta Bergamo’s Nigerian striker, Ademola Lookman (27), who was recently ranked among the 15 best players in the world by France Football magazine. The competition for the African Ballon d’Or therefore seems very strong.
Sofiane Rahimi, star scorer for the Moroccan Olympic team at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, continues to showcase his impressive statistics. Despite the absence of his name among the 30 best players in the world, while his Nigerian competitor Lookman appears in this list, Rahimi maintains a solid chance of winning the title of the best African player. His performances last season, both with Al-Ain and the Moroccan Olympic team, demonstrate his growing influence in African football. He scored a total of 35 goals and provided 15 assists in his 50 matches with his club, actively contributing to the conquest of the Asian Champions League. He also won the title of best player and top scorer in the Asian competition, having scored 13 goals.
Achraf Hakimi, for his part, scored eight goals and provided as many assists with PSG, while winning Ligue 1 and the Coupe de France. He also won the bronze medal with Morocco at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Hakimi’s career, marked by his exceptional performances within one of the most prestigious clubs in the world, continues to place him among the best world defenders and could well earn him a place on the African Ballon d’Or podium.
Ademola Lookman, for his part, was a centerpiece for Italian club Atalanta, scoring 20 goals and providing 11 assists in 57 games. He also contributed to his team’s Europa League victory. His inclusion in the list of the world’s top 15 players by France Football strengthens his chances of being crowned best African player at the CAF awards ceremony, scheduled for December 16 in Marrakech.
Thus, the competition for the awards for the best African players is particularly hotly contested in 2024. Achraf Hakimi, Sofiane Rahimi, and Ademola Lookman are all strong candidates, each having marked the season with their exceptional performances. The outcome of this race for the African Ballon d’Or promises to be exciting, and football fans across the continent are eagerly awaiting the results of this prestigious ceremony.
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