Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman was crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh. The Atalanta forward outshone Simon Adingra, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, and Ronwen Williams to clinch the title. Lookman becomes the second consecutive Nigerian to win the award, following Victor Osimhen in 2023.
Zambia’s Barbra Banda made history by becoming the first Zambian to win the women’s award, edging out Sanaa Mssoudy and Chiamaka Nnadozie. Banda’s stellar performances for Orlando Pride and her country contributed to her win, including leading her club to their first National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) title.
Lookman’s remarkable year included a hat-trick in Atalanta’s historic European trophy win and three goals for Nigeria in the Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles were runners-up. Banda, meanwhile, scored 17 goals in the NWSL and became Africa’s top Olympic scorer with 10 goals across two Games.
The night also celebrated various other winners, including Ronwen Williams, who claimed two awards, and Ivory Coast, named Men’s National Team of the Year. Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz and Moroccan singer Dystinct headlined the event, which also honored Cameroon’s President Paul Biya with a lifetime achievement award.
2024 Caf Awards Highlights:
- Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria & Atalanta)
- Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia & Orlando Pride)
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria & Paris FC)
- Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Goal of the Year: Cristovao Mabululu (Angola v Namibia, Afcon 2023).
