Ademola Lookman, the Nigeria forward, was named the 2024 African Men’s Player of the Year at a ceremony in Marrakesh on Monday, while Zambia’s Barbra Banda won the Women’s Player of the Year award. Lookman takes over from compatriot Victor Osimhen, who won the prestigious title last year, marking the first time a Nigerian had claimed the honor since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999. The 27-year-old’s exceptional performances for both Nigeria and Serie A leaders Atalanta earned him the award. Lookman scored three goals to help Nigeria reach the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, where they led the Ivory Coast before losing 2-1. He also netted twice in a last-16 victory over Cameroon and scored the winner in a 1-0 quarter-final win over Angola.
In addition to his AFCON success, Lookman scored a hat-trick in Atalanta’s 3-0 Europa League final win over Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin. After receiving the award, he encouraged Africa’s youth, saying, “Never give up. Turn pain into power.”
The other nominees for the Men’s Player of the Year award were South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy. Williams also took home the Best Goalkeeper and Best Club Player awards.
Barbra Banda earned the Women’s Player of the Year accolade following her impressive performances for Orlando Pride and the Zambia national team. Banda scored four goals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, including a hat-trick against Australia. Her 13 goals in the regular season and four in the playoffs helped Orlando Pride win the National Women’s Soccer League for the first time.
The runners-up for the Women’s Player of the Year award were Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie, both of whom also claimed awards in other categories.
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Men’s Categories:
- Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Club Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns, South Africa)
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
- Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal)
- Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)
- National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
- Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
- Best XI: Andre Onana (Cameroon); Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal), Chancel Mbemba (Congo); Mohammed Kudus (Ghana), Sofyan Amrabat (Morocco), Franck Kessie (Ivory Coast), Yves Bissouma (Mali); Mohamed Salah (Egypt), Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman (both Nigeria)
Women’s Categories:
- Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia)
- Club Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (FAR Rabat, Morocco)
- Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
- Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco)
- Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe, Congo)
- National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (Congo)
- Best XI: Andile Dlamini (South Africa); Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale (both Nigeria), Lebohang Ramalepe, Karabo Dlamini; Linda Motlhalo (South Africa), Rasheedat Ajibade (Nigeria), Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco); Barbra Banda (Zambia), Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria), Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi)
