Ademola Lookman has been named African Footballer of Yr by the Confederation of African Soccer at their awards ceremony on Monday.
The Atalanta ahead scored a hat-trick as aspect gained the Europa League closing towards Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in Might and earlier within the yr he helped Nigeria attain the Africa Cup of Nations closing within the Ivory Coast.
He netted thrice on the AFCON match.
Lookman, who has performed within the Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester Metropolis, scored 17 objectives for Atalanta final season and already has 11 on this marketing campaign. He moved to the Serie A membership in 2022.
The Nigerian Prince is formally topped 𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆. 🇳🇬👑 #CAFAwards2024
pic.twitter.com/j6u7SPWpmd
— AFCON 2025 (@Afcon2025EN) December 16, 2024
“This award is a blessing, to be recognised as finest participant in Africa is one thing unbelievable,” he mentioned.
“4 years in the past my profession felt down however now I’m right here as the perfect participant in Africa. Don’t let your failures cease your desires.”
Lookman was named forward of Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy of Guinea, Simon Adingra from the Ivory Coast and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The award is voted for by a panel that features nationwide group coaches and captains, however no particulars of the voting tallies had been instantly offered.
Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to take the award and succeeds final yr’s winner Victor Osimhen.
Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Rashidi Yekini are the opposite earlier Nigerian winners.