Lookman, Nnadozie Among Favorites for African Player of the Year
The highly anticipated CAF Awards 2024 shortlist is set to be unveiled today, with Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie leading the charge for prestigious honors, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will crown the continent’s top footballers on December 16 at the Palais des Congrès in Morocco.
Lookman Among Favorites for African Player of the Year
Ademola Lookman has emerged as a frontrunner for the Men’s African Player of the Year award. The Atalanta winger’s stellar performance last season, including a remarkable hat-trick in the Europa League final, boosted his profile significantly. Lookman helped Atalanta claim the trophy and earned the Man of the Match award for his efforts against Bayer Leverkusen.
From an initial list of 30 players, CAF has narrowed the field to just five finalists:
- Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast)
- Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)
- Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
The final three nominees will be revealed today ahead of the official awards ceremony.
Lookman’s Impressive Season
Lookman’s 2023/24 season was nothing short of exceptional. He finished with:
- 17 goals and 10 assists for Atalanta
- Crucial contributions to Nigeria’s
- AFCON second-place finish
- Consistent form this season with 10 goals already
His performances make him a strong candidate for the top honor at the CAF Awards 2024.
Chiamaka Nnadozie in Contention for Multiple Awards
On the women’s front, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is making waves. She’s shortlisted for both the Women’s Player of the Year and the Best Goalkeeper awards.
In the Player of the Year category, Nnadozie competes against:
- Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi)
- Temwa Chawinga (Malawi)
- Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco)
- Barbra Banda (Zambia)
For the Best Goalkeeper title, her competition includes:
- Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo)
- Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco)
- Andile Dlamini (South Africa)
Nigeria’s Strong Presence at the CAF Awards 2024
Several Nigerians are in contention for major accolades:
- Chiamaka Okwuchukwu: Nominated for Young Player of the Year
- Super Falcons: Nominated for Women’s National Team of the Year
- Chris Danjuma: Recognized in the Women’s Coach of the Year category
- Edo Queens: Shortlisted for Women’s Club of the Year
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