Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles winger, was crowned the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year at a star-studded ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, on Monday. The 27-year-old Atalanta forward triumphed over strong contenders, including Achraf Hakimi, Simon Adingra, Ronwen Williams, and Serhou Guirassy, to claim the prestigious individual honor.

This victory marks a significant milestone for Lookman, who followed in the footsteps of Victor Osimhen, the 2023 winner. It also represents the first time in over 27 years that Nigerian players have won the award in consecutive years, with Nwankwo Kanu winning in 1996 and Victor Ikpeba following in 1997.

Lookman’s stellar 2023/24 season saw him score 17 goals and provide 11 assists across all competitions for Atalanta, who maintained their place as one of Serie A’s top clubs. He also starred in the Europa League, scoring a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen, leading Atalanta to their first-ever European title. On the international stage, Lookman was one of Nigeria’s standout performers at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d’Ivoire, where he netted three goals and helped the Super Eagles secure a silver medal. His efforts earned him a place in the tournament’s Best XI alongside captain William Troost-Ekong.

During his acceptance speech, Lookman reflected on his journey, acknowledging his growth after a difficult moment in his career. He recalled his infamous penalty miss in 2020 while playing for Fulham against West Ham United, a moment that earned him widespread mockery. “Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said. He urged young fans to not let failures define them, emphasizing the importance of turning pain into power.

“I want to say to the young children and people watching this: don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings. Turn your pain into your power and continue to fight,” he added.

Lookman also expressed gratitude to his family, teammates, and the Almighty God for the support and blessings that have shaped his career. “This award today is a blessing to me, to my family, to my nation,” he said, beaming with pride.

The ceremony also saw other notable awards presented, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda winning the Women’s Player of the Year and Chiamaka Nnadozie of Nigeria claiming the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive year. The Super Falcons were named the Women’s National Team of the Year, while Côte d’Ivoire’s national team won the Men’s National Team of the Year.

Full List of Winners:

• Player of the Year (Men): Ademola Lookman

• Player of the Year (Women): Barbra Banda

• Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie

• Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Ronwen Williams

• Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Sanaa Mssoudy

• Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Ronwen Williams

• Young Player of the Year (Women): Doha El Madani

• Young Player of the Year (Men): Lamine Camara

• Coach of the Year (Women): Lamia Bouhamedi

• Coach of the Year (Men): Emerse Fae

• Club of the Year (Women): TP Mazembe

• Club of the Year (Men): Al Ahly FC

• National Team of the Year (Women): Super Falcons of Nigeria

• National Team of the Year (Men): Elephants of Côte d’Ivoire

• Goal of the Year: Mabululu (Angola)