Ademola Lookman crowned African Ball d’Or at the end of an exceptional season

Monday 16th December 2024 04:38 PM

The Nigerian and unfortunate finalist of the CAN 2024 Ademola Lookman won the title of African player of the year on Monday during the CAF Awards 2024 ceremony. A logical reward given his decisive contribution for the Super Eagles and for his club Atalanta Bergamo. Among the women, it was the Zambian Barbra Banda who was crowned.

Super Eagle Ademola Lookmann spent the year 2024 in weightlessness and concluded it in apotheosis on Monday December 16, crowned with the title of best African player of the year at the CAF Awards.

In Marrakech, the Nigerian had the honor of being crowned in front of his four competitors, the Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, the Ivorian Simon Adingra, the South African Ronwen Williams and the Guinean Serhou Guirassy. A rarity for this type of ceremony, which tends to be increasingly snubbed by the losers, as evidenced by the boycott of the Ballon d’Or by Real Madrid last October.

If the competition was tough, the trophy is deserved: the striker was decisive both with Nigeria and his club Atalanta Bergamo throughout the year.

In total, in 2024, Ademola Lookman will have 51 goals and assists in 83 matches played. A hellish pace.

“This award is a blessing, to be recognized as the best player in Africa is something incredible,” he said. “Four years ago my career was at its lowest point, but today I am here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”