ADEMOLA LOOKMAN IS 2024 CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Ademola Olajade Alade Aylola Lookman MON (born 20 October 1997) has been named the CAF African footballer of the year (male), 2024.

Lookman, 27, 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.

The former RB Leipzig, Leicester and Fulham forward also scored three times as Nigeria reached the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they were edged out by Sebastian Haller's late goal for the Ivory Coast in the final.

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 sit two points clear of Napoli at the summit of Serie A.

"This award is a blessing, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible," Lookman said as he picked up the trophy.

"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."

The other nominees for the gong were Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Borussia Dortmund forward Serhou Guirassy, and Brighton's Ivorian winger Simon Adingra.

Lookman succeeds fellow Nigerian Victor Osimhen as the winner of the prestigious award, which was first handed out officially by CAF in 1992.

Ademola Lookman was the only African player to be nominated for this year's Ballon d'Or and finished in 14th place in the rankings.

πŸ† Europa League Winner  

πŸ† Atalanta Player of the Season  

πŸ† Selected in the Europa League Team of the Year  

πŸ‡³πŸ‡¬ Became the first player, living or deceased, to score a hat trick in the Europa League final  

⚽️ Hat trick against Leverkusen in the Europa League final  

⚽️ 18 Goals/Assists in Serie A last season  

⚽️ 16 Goals/Assists in Serie A and UCL so far this season  

⚽️ Scored in the AFCON Last 16 and quarterfinals.

Sadio ManΓ©, Mohamed Salah, Pierre- Emerick Aubameyang and Riyad Mahrez have all claimed the prize in recent years. Samuel Eto'o and Yaya Toure share the record for the most wins, each picking up the award four times.

#AdemolaLookman #Lookman

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