Nigeria’s Lookman crowned African Footballer of the Year

Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman was declared African Player of the Year by the Confederation of African Football at its awards ceremony on Monday after an outstanding season for club and country.

The 27-year-old netted a hat-trick as his Italian team Atalanta clinched the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May and earlier in the year assisted Nigeria to reach the Africa Cup of Nations championship in Ivory Coast.
He scored three goals at the AFCON competition.

London-born Lookman, who has featured in the English Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, registered 17 goals for Atalanta last term and already has 11 in this campaign. He transferred to the Serie A side in 2022.

“This recognition is a blessing; to be honoured as the best footballer in Africa is truly incredible,” he said.

“Four years back my career felt stagnant, but now I’m here as the top player in Africa. Never let your setbacks end your dreams.”

Lookman was chosen ahead of Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea, Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The award is voted for by a committee that includes national team coaches and captains, but no information on the voting breakdown was immediately available.

Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to secure the title and succeeds last year’s winner Victor Osimhen.

Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Rashidi Yekini are the other previous Nigerian awardees.

Zambia’s Barbra Banda was named African Women’s Player of the Year. The 24-year-old guided Orlando Pride to their first NWSL Championship title with the decisive goal against Kansas City after her squad topped the regular-season standings.
Two years back, Banda was excluded from the Zambia team for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament on gender eligibility grounds but was approved by FIFA to compete at the 2023 Women’s World Cup and appeared at this year’s Paris Olympics.