Ademola Lookman is the favorite to win the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award. His standout performances, especially in the Europa League final, have placed him ahead of Achraf Hakimi and Serhou Guirassy. Lookman’s nomination for the 2024 Ballon d’Or further strengthens his candidacy.
Ademola Lookman is emerging as a strong contender to claim the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award, with the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport naming him as the “absolute favorite” to succeed Victor Osimhen as Africa's best player. The prestigious award ceremony is set to take place tonight in Marrakech, Morocco.
Lookman’s standout performances, particularly his heroics in the 2024 Europa League final, have given him an edge over his rivals. His remarkable hat-trick in the final, which secured Atalanta their first-ever European title, has been a key factor in his rise. The Nigerian forward faces stiff competition from Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and Guinea's Serhou Guirassy, a standout at Borussia Dortmund.
In addition to his Europa League success, Lookman made history by becoming the first African player from Atalanta to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or in 2024. He finished 14th in the final ranking, a significant achievement given the competition.
Lookman’s strong form throughout the year, including his contributions to Nigeria's success in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, has made him a front-runner for the CAF Player of the Year award. As the ceremony unfolds tonight, all eyes will be on the 26-year-old to see if he can surpass Hakimi and Guirassy to claim the prestigious title.
