- Ademola Lookman is a favorite for the African Player of the Year after scoring 11 goals for Atalanta this season
- Chiamaka Nnadozie aims to retain her title as Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, showcasing her skills with Paris FC
The spotlight shines brightly on Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie as the 2024 CAF Awards take centre stage today at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. Both players are male and female favourites in the African Player of the Year categories.
Lookman’s contributions to football this year have been nothing short of extraordinary. His three goals and two assists were instrumental in propelling Nigeria to their eighth Africa Cup of Nations Final.
He followed this up with a stellar performance for Atalanta FC, scoring a hat-trick in the UEFA Europa Cup final, which secured a 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman has delivered 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances for Atalanta this season, including a goal against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
He scored twice during Nigeria’s AFCON qualification campaign, though two additional goals were controversially disallowed.
If he wins tonight, Lookman will add his name to Nigeria’s illustrious list of African Player of the Year winners, joining legends like Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amuneke, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, and last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen.
This victory would also elevate Nigeria to second place in the all-time African Player of the Year rankings.
In the women’s category, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is a strong contender. Her impressive performances have been pivotal in Nigeria’s qualification for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament and next year’s AFCON.
With French club Paris FC, Nnadozie has drawn widespread acclaim for her goalkeeping prowess.
Nnadozie is also nominated for the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, which she seeks to retain after winning last year. Her competitors include South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi.
Nigerians in Other Award Categories
The CAF Awards also feature other Nigerian nominees:
- Women’s Young Player of the Year: Chiamaka Okwuchukwu
- Men’s National Team of the Year: Super Eagles
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Super Falcons
- Women’s Club of the Year: Edo Queens