Ademola Lookman, Africa's Best Player of 2024
Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who plays for Atalanta, was awarded Africa's Best Player of the Year 2024. This award, presented by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), recognizes his outstanding performance last season, where he played a key role in helping his Italian team win the Europa League.
Lookman, 27, triumphed over nominees such as Moroccan Achraf Hakimi (PSG), Ivorian Simon Adingra (Brighton), Guinean Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund), and South African Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns), who was honored as the best goalkeeper. This recognition marks the beginning of his accolades in African football.
In the women’s category, the Best Player award went to Barbra Banda, who plays for the Orlando Pride in the U.S. league. The 24-year-old stood out for her performances with the Zambia national team and her new club, after joining Orlando Pride earlier this year, making her the second most expensive transfer in women's football history.
Banda beat Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy, who plays for AS FAR, and Nigerian Chiamaka Nnadozie, who took home the award for best goalkeeper. Banda was recognized for her historic performance in the Paris Olympic Games, where she scored a hat-trick in a single match, a remarkable feat in women’s football.
The Coach of the Year award went to Emerse Faé, head coach of the Ivory Coast national team, while Lamia Boumehdi, head coach of TP Mazembe, was named the Best Female Coach, standing out in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Additionally, the Men’s Club of the Year was awarded to Egyptian club Al Ahly, which won the African Champions League for the fourth time in five years.
Finally, the CAF also recognized outstanding players and clubs in other categories, such as the Goal of the Year, awarded to Cristovao Mabululu from Angola, and the Best Young Player, Senegal’s Lamine Camara from AS Monaco. These awards highlight the growing quality and competitiveness of African football across all categories.
