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Ademola Lookman, a winger for the Super Eagles and Atalanta, defeated Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and PSG, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea and Dortmund, Ronwen Williams of Mamelodi Sundowns, and Simon Adingra of Ivory Coast and Brighton & Hove Albion to win the title of best player in Africa.
The 27-year-old, along with Victor Osimhen, made the CAF FIFPRO Best Men’s XI team as unveiled by CAF.
Despite missing out on the Africa Footballer of the Year award for the Women’s category to Barbara Banda and the CAF FIFPRO Best Women’s XI team, Super Falcon’s shot-stopper Chiamaka Nnadozie defended her title as the best female goalkeeper in Africa following her terrific performances with the Nigerian women’s team and Paris FC in France.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria were voted the Best Women’s Team of the Year, edging out other elite contestants for the prestigious award.
The CAF FIFPRO Women’s Best XI featured four Super Falcons players: Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Osinachi Ohale, and Michelle Alozie.
Ademola Lookman’s victory is the seventh African Footballer of the Year award to be won by a Nigerian player and the second consecutive year that a Nigerian has won the trophy.
The first Nigerian player to win the bronze award for Africa Footballer of the Year was Segun Odegbami in 1977. Rashidi Yekini, who passed away in 1993, was the first Nigerian to win the coveted title. It was later won by Kanu Nwankwo in 1996, Victor Ikpeba in 1997, Emmanuel Amunike in 1994, and Kanu once more in 1999.
Nigeria had not won the prize for 24 years until Victor Osimhen ended the drought last year, and Ademola Lookman’s victory this year ensured Nigeria’s title defense.
