Ademola Lookman was named African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football at their awards ceremony on Monday.
The Atalanta forward scored a hat-trick as the team won the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May and earlier in the year helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast.
He scored three times in the AFCON tournament.
Lookman, who has played in the Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season and already has 11 this season. He moved to the Serie A club in 2022.
The Nigerian Prince is officially crowned 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆.
#CAFAwards2024
— AFCON 2025 (@Afcon2025EN) December 16, 2024
“This award is a blessing, to be recognized as the best player in Africa is incredible,” he said.
“Four years ago my career was down, but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”
Lookman was named ahead of Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The award is voted on by a committee that includes coaches and national team captains, but details of the vote tallies were not immediately available.
Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to receive 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.
