{"id":21206,"date":"2024-12-16T23:37:13","date_gmt":"2024-12-16T23:37:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/?p=21206"},"modified":"2024-12-17T06:23:50","modified_gmt":"2024-12-17T06:23:50","slug":"ademola-lookman-wins-2024-caf-african-player-of-the-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/?p=21206","title":{"rendered":"Ademola Lookman wins 2024 CAF African Player of the Year"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"fixed-header\">\n<div class=\"navigation-wrapper\">\n<nav class=\"navbar navbar-expand-sm\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div id=\"navbarNav\" class=\"collapse navbar-collapse show\">\n<p>Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman has been named the African Player of the Year at the prestigious 2024 Confederation of African Football Awards.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section id=\"article-page\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-lg-8\">\n<article class=\"single-article\">\n<div class=\"post-content\">\n<figure id=\"attachment_1740878\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1740878\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1740878\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4.jpeg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-60x33.jpeg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-150x82.jpeg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-255x139.jpeg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-300x163.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-313x170.jpeg 313w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-640x349.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-768x418.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-960x523.jpeg 960w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4-1024x558.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/11\/18200346\/Ademola-Lookman-4.jpeg 1280w\" alt=\"Ademola Lookman\" width=\"1280\" height=\"697\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1740878\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ademola Lookman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The announcement was made during a glittering ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, celebrating the finest talents in African football.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1758444\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-60x75.jpg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-150x188.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-240x300.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-255x319.jpg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-313x391.jpg 313w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-384x480.jpg 384w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-576x720.jpg 576w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-768x960.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237-819x1024.jpg 819w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212902\/20241216_212237.jpg 1080w\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1350\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The Atalanta forward had a sensational year, dazzling fans with his incredible skill, blistering pace, and clinical finishing.<\/p>\n<div class=\"primisVideoUnit\">\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1758435\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1758435\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1758435\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-60x107.jpg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-150x267.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-227x403.jpg 227w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-255x453.jpg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-270x480.jpg 270w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399-405x720.jpg 405w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212522\/fcd53fb3-b016-48bc-bfde-fbf885848399.jpg 480w\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"853\" \/><\/figure>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1758435\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1758435\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1758435\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lookman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Lookman was instrumental in both his club\u2019s success in Serie A and Nigeria\u2019s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.<\/p>\n<p>His standout performances, including crucial goals in the UEFA Europa League and consistent brilliance in domestic competitions, solidified his position as one of Africa\u2019s brightest stars.<\/p>\n<p>Lookman edged out fierce competition from Morocco\u2019s Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast\u2019s Simon Adingra and PSG\u2019s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to claim the coveted award.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1758431\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1758431\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1758431\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb-60x60.jpg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/8hfoXxJa-ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb-255x255.jpg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb-313x313.jpg 313w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16212329\/ca348234-fb18-4c8a-b2b2-d4535d36b1fb.jpg 480w\" alt=\"\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1758431\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Lookman<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>PUNCH Online <a href=\"https:\/\/punchng.com\/just-in-ademola-lookman-ranks-14th-in-ballon-dor\/#google_vignette\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">reported<\/a> in October that Lookman ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d\u2019Or standings.<\/p>\n<p>In May, Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in <a href=\"https:\/\/punchng.com\/lookmans-historic-hat-trick-fires-atalanta-to-europa-triumph-over-leverkusen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">UEFA Europa League final<\/a> as Atalanta stunned Bayer Leverkusen 3-0, dramatically halting the Bundesliga champions\u2019 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_1699715\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-1699715\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1699715\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 806px) 100vw, 806px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-60x41.jpg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-150x104.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-255x176.jpg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-300x207.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-313x216.jpg 313w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-640x442.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275-768x531.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/15002810\/Lookman-e1728948490275.jpg 806w\" alt=\"Lookman\" width=\"806\" height=\"557\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-1699715\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ademola Lookman [Credit: X |<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Speaking at the event, Lookman dedicated the award to his teammates, family, and the fans who have supported him throughout his career.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-1758450\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101.jpg\" sizes=\"(max-width: 828px) 100vw, 828px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-60x35.jpg 60w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-150x87.jpg 150w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-255x148.jpg 255w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-313x181.jpg 313w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-640x371.jpg 640w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.punchng.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/16214106\/IMG-20241216-WA00101.jpg 828w\" alt=\"\" width=\"828\" height=\"480\" \/><\/p>\n<h3>Other award winners include:<\/h3>\n<p>\ud835\udc01\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1b\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1a \ud835\udc01\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc1a is the Women\u2019s Player of the Year \u2013 Zambia.<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s National Team of the Year is \ud835\udc0d\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc20\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc1a.<\/p>\n<p>The Men\u2019s Young Player of the Year, for the second year in a row, is \ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1e \ud835\udc02\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc1a \u2013 Senegal.<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s Young Player of the Year is \ud835\udc03\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc21\ud835\udc1a \ud835\udc04\ud835\udc25 \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc22 \u2013 Morocco.<\/p>\n<p>The Men\u2019s Club of the Year is \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc25 \ud835\udc00\ud835\udc21\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc32 \ud835\udc05\ud835\udc02 \u2013 Egypt.<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s Club of the Year is TP Mazembe \u2013 Congo<\/p>\n<p>The Men\u2019s Interclub Player of the Year is \ud835\udc11\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc30\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc27 \ud835\udc16\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc25\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc2c \u2013 South Africa<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s Interclub Player of the Year is \ud835\udc12\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc27\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc1a \ud835\udc0c\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc32 \u2013 Morocco<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s Goalkeeper of the Year is Chiamaka Nnadozie \u2013 Nigeria<\/p>\n<p>The Men\u2019s Goalkeeper of the Year is Ronwen Williams<\/p>\n<p>The Men\u2019s Coach of the Year is \ud835\udc04\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc2b\ud835\udc2c\ud835\udc1e \ud835\udc05\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc1e \u2013 Cote d\u2019Ivoire<\/p>\n<p>The Women\u2019s Coach of the Year is \ud835\udc0b\ud835\udc1a\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc22\ud835\udc1a \ud835\udc01\ud835\udc28\ud835\udc2e\ud835\udc26\ud835\udc1e\ud835\udc21\ud835\udc1d\ud835\udc22 \u2013 TP Mazembe<\/p>\n<p>The Goal of the Year is Cristovao \ud835\udde0\ud835\uddee\ud835\uddef\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9\ud835\ude02\ud835\uddf9\ud835\ude02 \u2013 Angola<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Nigerian star, Ademola Lookman has been named the African Player of the Year at the prestigious 2024 Confederation of African Football Awards.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21213,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[9673,9672],"class_list":["post-21206","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sports","tag-2024-caf-african-player-of-the-year","tag-ademola-lookman"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21206"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=21206"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21206\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":21210,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/21206\/revisions\/21210"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/21213"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=21206"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=21206"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/theblogonline.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=21206"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}