Ademola Lookman, 2024 African Golden Ball

0

Published on Dec 17, 2024 at 1:25 par

Armel Ouaba

He had almost no rivals. This Monday, Ademola Lookman was elected best African player of the year 2024.

It was at the end of a CAF Awards evening, which was held this Monday at the Movenpick Convention Center in Marrakech, that the news broke. First of all, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has awarded other prizes such as that of best trainer to Emerse Faé. Then she awarded Ademola Lookman the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

The Nigerian striker courted by PSG is ahead of Guinean center forward Seyrou Guirassy. Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi, who was announced as the winner, finished third. Author of an exceptional season in the colors of Atalanta, Ademola Lookman scored 11 goals and 7 assists in 31 Serie A matches.

But it is on the European scene that the 27-year-old will cause a sensation. During the Europa League final on May 24 in Dublin, the Super Eagle defeated Bayer Leverkusen by scoring the three goals of the game. He thus joins Ferenc Puskás, Alfredo Di Stéfano, Pierino Prati and Jupp Heynckes. They are the only 4 players who have scored a hat-trick in a European competition final.

The former Leipzig player also led Nigeria to the final of the African Cup of Nations before losing to Ivory Coast.