The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled the final shortlist of nominees for the highly anticipated 2024 CAF Awards, with Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie emerging as standout contenders in their respective categories.
Lookman, 27, has been named among the final nominees for the prestigious CAF Men’s Player of the Year award. His inclusion follows a stellar year for both club and country. The forward dazzled during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where he played a pivotal role in the Super Eagles’ campaign, scoring three crucial goals and providing an assist in seven matches to help Nigeria secure a second-place finish.
At club level, Lookman further etched his name into the annals of African football history, scoring a sensational hat-trick for Italian side Atalanta in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
His exploits have earned him a spot among Africa’s elite, where he will vie for the top honor against Côte d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
While Lookman’s achievements shine brightly, Nigeria’s Stanley Nwabali fell short of the final shortlist for the Goalkeeper of the Year category.
The competition for the continent’s best shot-stopper now centers on Cameroon’s Andre Onana, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, and Côte d’Ivoire’s Yahia Fofana.
In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, continues to make waves as she secures a spot in the final three nominees for the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award. Nnadozie, celebrated for her commanding performances for both club and country, will battle Zambia’s Barbara Banda and Morocco’s Sanna Mssoudy for the coveted title.
The spotlight also extends to Nigeria’s national teams. The Super Eagles and Super Falcons have been nominated for the CAF Men’s and Women’s National Team of the Year, a testament to their collective achievements in continental football. The Super Eagles’ journey to the AFCON final and the Super Falcons’ strong performances at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations have solidified their positions as powerhouses in African football.
The competition for Men’s National Team of the Year includes the reigning AFCON champions, Côte d’Ivoire’s Elephants, and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana, while the Women’s category sees Nigeria’s Super Falcons up against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana and Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses.
The 2024 CAF Awards promise to be a celebration of African football’s best and brightest talents. As Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie take center stage, football fans across the country eagerly await the final ceremony, hoping their stars bring home the honors.
The winners will be revealed at the grand awards gala scheduled for later this month.
