Ademola Lookman has written his name into African football history after being honored as the 2024 African Player of the Year.
The Atalanta forward beat fierce competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra (Brighton), Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns) to claim the top prize.
Lookman’s phenomenal form in 2024 made him an undeniable choice. He played a crucial role in Atalanta’s success, delivering a stunning hat-trick in their Europa League final win against Bayer Leverkusen.
On the international front, Lookman was a key figure in Nigeria’s journey to the Africa Cup of Nations final.
His impressive tally of three goals and one assist earned him a well-deserved place in the tournament’s Team of the Tournament.
This achievement sees Lookman join the ranks of Nigerian icons like Rashidi Yekini, Nwankwo Kanu, Emmanuel Amuneke, Victor Ikpeba, and Victor Osimhen, who claimed the honor in 2023.
While Achraf Hakimi had strong support, especially from Moroccan fans and former players like Salaheddine Bassir, Lookman’s consistent brilliance throughout the year gave him the edge.
Lookman’s recognition highlights his exceptional contributions and further strengthens Nigeria’s reputation in African football.