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Ademola Lookman has been named African Footballer of Year by the Confederation of African Football at their awards ceremony on Monday.
The Atalanta forward scored a hat-trick as side won the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen in Dublin in May and earlier in the year he helped Nigeria reach the Africa Cup of Nations final in the Ivory Coast.
He netted three times at the AFCON tournament.
Lookman, who has played in the Premier League for Everton, Fulham and Leicester City, scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season and already has 11 in this campaign. 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, to be recognised as best player in Africa is something incredible,” he said.
“Four years ago my career felt down but now I’m here as the best player in Africa. Don’t let your failures stop your dreams.”
Lookman was named ahead 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 includes national team coaches and captains, but no details of the voting tallies were immediately provided.
Lookman is the seventh Nigerian to take the award and succeeds last year’s winner Victor Osimhen.
Nwankwo Kanu (twice), Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba and Rashidi Yekini are the other previous Nigerian winners.