Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to take the award and succeeds closing one year’s winner Victor Osimhen.
Reuters
17 December, 2024, 01:40 pm
Final modified: 17 December, 2024, 01:42 pm
Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman used to be named African Footballer of Yr by the Confederation of African Soccer at its awards ceremony on Monday after a stellar campaign for club and nation.
The 27-one year-former scored a hat-trick as his Italian club Atalanta obtained the Europa League closing in opposition to Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in Would possibly well and earlier in the one year helped Nigeria attain the Africa Cup of Countries closing in the Ivory Fly.
He netted thrice at the AFCON tournament.
London-born Lookman, who has conducted in the English Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, scored 17 goals for Atalanta closing season and already has 11 in this campaign. He moved to the Serie A club in 2022.
“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as excellent player in Africa is one thing impossible,” he acknowledged.
“Four years ago my profession felt down nonetheless now I’m here as the valid player in Africa. Don’t let your screw ups end your dreams.”
Lookman used to be named before Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea, Simon Adingra from the Ivory Fly and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The award is voted for by a panel that entails national group coaches and captains, nonetheless no dinky print of the balloting tallies had been at once equipped.
Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to take the award and succeeds closing one year’s winner Victor Osimhen.
Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Rashidi Yekini are the change earlier Nigerian winners.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda used to be named African Women folk’s Participant of the Yr. The 24-one year-former helped Orlando Satisfaction divulge their first NWSL Championship title with the profitable just in opposition to Kansas City after her group had topped the present season standings.
Two years ago Banda used to be neglected of the Zambia squad for the Women folk’s Africa Cup of Countries finals on gender eligibility grounds nonetheless used to be cleared by FIFA to compete at the 2023 Women folk’s World Cup and conducted at this one year’s Paris Olympics.
