Ademola Lookman Is African Footballer of The Year
Nigerian International and Atalanta player Ademola Lookman has won the African Footballer of the year Award for 2024 defeating four other nominees; Ivorian Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams. Lookman won the top award at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday. The ceremony honoured Africa’s best performers of the year.
The 27 year old Lookman who was borne in Wandsworth in United Kingdom didn’t join the academy until he was 16 years old when he was spotted playing for the local amateur club Waterloo by Charlton Athletic Club. Within a year, Lookman moved from under 18s and made his debut for the club. Despite the relegation of Charlton, Lookman proved to be extraordinary and better than the rest which made Everton signed him in 2017. On his debut for Everton, Lookman scored against the visiting Manchester City just four minutes after he was brought on. He latter played for RB Leipzig of Germany and was also on loan at Fulham and Leicester Football clubs, both in England.
Lookman moved to Atalanta in 2022 and became an instant success scoring 12 goals in his first season. He became Atalanta Player of the Season in 2024 and was named in Europa League Team of the Year. His hat trick against Leverkusen who were unbeaten in all competition in the Europa League final earned him a nomination for Ballon- D’or . Lookman was the highest goal scorer for the Sper Eagles in the African Cup of Nation (AFCON), which took place in Abidjan, Coted-Ivoire
Speaking after receiving the award, Lookman, a Yoruba man from the South western part of Nigeria greeted in his native language of Yoruba. He said “Ekaale , Nigeria. Mo n ki gbogbo yin . Ese, modupe.”, which means good evening Nigeria, I am greeting you all, thank you and I am grateful.
Lookman thanked God for his successes as well as the President of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He also thanked his teammates as well as the coaches both in Country and Club. He concluded his speech by saying, “Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa. To everyone both young and old, Don’t let your failure weigh you down that they break your wings but fight. Turn your pain into power and continue to fly “
