Ademola Lookman African Best Player 2024: On Monday, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) unveiled over 20 esteemed winners during the 2024 CAF Awards held at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
This grand event brought together a host of African football stars, coaches, match officials, journalists, and distinguished guests, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and various musicians.
Among the standout awardees this year were Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, Zambian striker Barbra Banda, and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
MEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ademola Lookman African Best Player 2024 earned the title of CAF Men’s Player of the Year, thanks to his dazzling performances for both the Nigerian national team and Atalanta. His achievement marks a significant moment in Nigerian football history, as he follows in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, who won the same honor in 2023, ending a nearly three-decade drought for back-to-back victories by Nigerian players, a feat last achieved by Nwankwo Kanu in 1996 and Victor Ikpeba in 1997.
WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR In the Women’s category, Zambia’s Barbra Banda was awarded the CAF Women’s Player of the Year after making headlines in the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season in the United States, playing a crucial role in leading the Orlando Pride to both the NWSL Shield and Championship by netting the decisive goal in the final against Washington Spirit.
Banda also shone at the 2024 Paris Olympics, scoring a remarkable hat-trick, the first of its kind in Olympic football history, making her the first African player to be named to the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2024.
MEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR Ronwen Williams from South Africa was a notable highlight of the night, winning two awards, namely, the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Men’s Inter Club Player of the Year, thanks to his brilliant performance, including critical penalty saves during the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023.
Williams who captained South Africa to a bronze medal, made four saves in the quarter-final shootout against Cape Verde, and did contribute significantly to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he helped his team achieve an impressive joint record of only 11 goals conceded in 30 matches, securing their seventh consecutive domestic league title.
WOMEN’S GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie was honored as Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive time, following another outstanding season with Paris FC in France, where she was named Première Ligue Goalkeeper of the Season for 2023-24.
WOMEN’S INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR In addition, AS FAR and Moroccan international forward Sanaâ Mssoudy was honored as the Women’s Interclub Player of the Year after securing the Best Player award at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
YOUNG PLAYERS OF THE YEAR Meanwhile, Senegalese midfielder Lamine Camara, currently with Monaco, received the Men’s Young Player of the Year accolade for his impressive performances both at the club and national levels.
Furthermore, Doha El Madani from AS FAR and Morocco earned the title of Women’s Young Player of the Year, complementing her achievement of the Golden Boot at the same tournament with six goals in five matches.
MEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR With a sense of honor, the Men’s Coach of the Year award was presented to Emerse Fae, who remarkably guided Côte d’Ivoire from a near elimination scenario to winning the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations title on home soil, marking a significant achievement in global sports for 2024.
WOMEN’S COACH OF THE YEAR Simultaneously, Moroccan coach Lamia Boumehdi was recognized as the Women’s Coach of the Year for leading TP Mazembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo to victory in the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League against AS FAR in the final.
MEN’S YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR Lamine Camara, who has excelled as a dynamic box-to-box midfielder for both club and country, was named the Men’s Young Player of the Year. On the other hand, Doha El Madani received the Women’s Young Player of the Year award and was celebrated for her Golden Boot performance at the recent CAF Women’s Champions League.
CLUBS OF THE YEAR In terms of club achievements, Al Ahly’s fourth TotalEnergies CAF Champions League triumph in five years earned them the title of Men’s Club of the Year, while TP Mazembe was deservedly recognized as the Women’s Club of the Year.
GOAL OF THE YEAR The Goal of the Year Award was awarded to Angola’s Mabululu for his spectacular strike against Namibia during the continental finals in Côte d’Ivoire, marking the only award determined by fan voting.
REFEREES OF THE YEAR Moreover, CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe honored his commitment from last year by recognizing match officials for the first time. This saw Mutaz Ibrahim from Libya was named the Men’s Referee of the Year, while Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi took home the Women’s Referee
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