Lookman named African player of the year

Ademolo Lookman was named African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football at an awards ceremony on Monday.

The Atalanta striker scored a hat-trick as the team won the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May, and earlier in the year he helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast.

He hit the net three times in the AFCON tournament.

Lookman, who played in the Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season and already has 11 this campaign. He moved to the Serie A club in 2022.

The Nigerian prince was officially crowned 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆. 🇳🇬👑 #CAFAwards2024

pic.twitter.com/j6u7SPWpmd

— AFCON 2025 (@Afcon2025EN) December 16, 2024

“This award is a blessing, to be recognized as the best player in Africa is something incredible,” he said.

Four years ago my career went down, but now I am here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let failures stop your dreams.”

Lookman was named ahead of Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, ​​Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The award is voted on by a committee that includes national team coaches and captains, but details of the voting results were not immediately released.

Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to win the award, succeeding last year’s winner Victor Osimhen.

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