Ademola Lookman was named African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football at the awards ceremony on Monday.
The Atalanta striker scored a hat-trick as the team won the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May, and earlier this year he helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast.
He scored three goals in the AFCON tournament.
Lookman, who has played for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City in the Premier League, scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season and has already scored 11 goals this season. He moved to the Serie A club in 2022.
The Nigerian prince is officially crowned 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆. 🇳🇬👑 #CAFAwards2024
— AFCON 2025 (@Afcon2025EN) December 16, 2024
“This award is a blessing, being recognized as the best player in Africa is something incredible,” he said.
“Four years ago my career felt like it was over, but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your mistakes stop your dreams.”
Lookman was named ahead of Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The award is voted on by a committee made up of national coaches and captains, but no details of the voting results were initially announced.
Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to receive the award, succeeding last year’s winner Victor Osimhen.
Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Rashidi Yekini are the other previous Nigerian winners.
