This year’s Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) award ceremony was historic. Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman took home the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award and Zambia’s Barbra Banda became the first woman from her country to win the women’s award, during the ceremony held in Marrakech on Monday.
27-year-old Lookman beat world-renowned competition, including Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Ivorian Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa, to claim the prestigious title.
The Atalanta forward joins an illustrious list of Nigerian footballers who have won the award, including last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen.
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According to ESPN, Lookman scored a hat trick in the Europa League final to earn the Serie A club their first-ever European silverware and only the second major trophy in their 117-year history.
He also helped the Super Eagles finish second in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals.
The former Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City midfielder finished in 14th place and was the only African on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist.
Lookman scored 17 goals and contributed 10 assists in 45 games across all competitions for Atalanta in the 2023-24 season and has made a similarly productive start to this campaign, finding the net 11 times in 19 club games as Gian Piero Gasperini’s team sits two points clear of Napoli at the summit of Serie A.
“This award is a blessing, to be recognized as best player in Africa is something incredible. Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams,” Lookman said as he picked up the trophy.
The go-getter had a phenomenal season, both with his club and for his country, making him a hot favorite for the award.
Meanwhile, Zambia’s Banda became CAF women’s player of the year, becoming the first woman from her country to win the prize.
The striker scored four goals for Zambia at the 2024 Paris Olympics, including a hat-trick in a group-stage loss to Australia.
She also scored 13 regular season goals and four in play-offs for the American team, Orlando Pride, helping it to win the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League for the first time.
“I feel great, it is something I have been working hard for to be here,” Banda said after winning the award. “Last time round I did not (win), but this time I made it, which makes me feel great and amazing.
“The secret is just training hard and paying attention to what you are doing. My advice to them (aspiring players) is not to look down on themselves but to keep working hard and be determined and disciplined. Hard work always pays off.”
