Atalanta as Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman crowned CAF 2025 Best Player

Ademola Lookman of Nigeria has been named the 2024 African Footballer of the Year during the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards held in Marrakesh.

The Atalanta attacker overcame competitors such as Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Serhou Guirassy from Guinea, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.

Lookman becomes the second consecutive Nigerian to win this award, following Victor Osimhen’s victory in 2023.

Barbra Banda, a striker for Orlando Pride, made history as the first Zambian to receive the women’s award, outpacing Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie.

The winners are selected by a panel of experts, which includes members from Caf’s technical committee, along with African media professionals, players, and coaches.

At 27 years old, Lookman was a strong contender for the award for the first time after an outstanding 2023-24 season.

He played a vital role in leading his Italian club to their first-ever European trophy, scoring a memorable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen—making him only the sixth player to accomplish a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.

On the international front, Lookman was included in the tournament’s best team at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, netting three goals as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up to the host nation in February.

Banda’s achievements follow closely after she was honored as the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

At just 24 years old, she was also recognized as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) in the United States, leading her team, Orlando Pride, to their inaugural title.

With 17 goals, the striker finished as the second-highest scorer, only behind Malawi’s Temwa Chawinga, with her most pivotal goal arriving in the Championship final where the Pride triumphed over Washington Spirit 1-0.

Banda also shone for her national team during the Paris Olympics, netting four goals for Zambia’s Copper Queens, including a first-half hat-trick against Australia.

Her ten goals across two Olympic Games have positioned her as the top African scorer in Olympic history.

To honor the continent’s premier football performances of the past year, Caf organized a ceremony featuring a lineup of Africa’s best artists.

Tanzanian sensation Diamond Platnumz and Moroccan performer Dystinct headlined the entertainment on a night when Cameroon’s President Paul Biya received an award for outstanding achievement.

This accolade was presented by Fifa president Gianni Infantino, who also extended congratulations to Morocco for being named co-hosts of the 2030 World Cup last week.

It was a celebratory evening for South Africa’s captain Williams, who, although not securing the main men’s award, took home two trophies. The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was named both Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Men’s Interclub Player of the Year.

On a glamorous night in Marrakesh, the Caf/Fifpro men’s and women’s external Best XI line-ups were also disclosed.

2024 Caf Awards winners

Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria & Atalanta)

Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia & Orlando Pride)

Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Fae (Ivory Coast)

Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

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 Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)

Women’s Club of the Year: TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Mssoudy (Morocco & AS Far)

Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal & Monaco)

Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco & AS Far)

Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast

Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria

Goal of the Year (voted for by fans): Cristovao Mabululu (Angola) – Angola v Namibia (Afcon 2023)