The 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards ceremony, held in Marrakech, Morocco, saw Nigerian football celebrate a mixed bag of triumphs and near misses. Ademola Lookman, the Super Eagles forward plying his trade at Atalanta, clinched the coveted African Player of the Year award, becoming the seventh Nigerian to achieve this feat and upholding Nigeria’s strong tradition in the category, following Victor Osimhen’s victory the previous year. Lookman’s exceptional performances throughout the year, including crucial goals and assists in Nigeria’s run to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final and a remarkable hat-trick that secured the UEFA Europa Cup for Atalanta, solidified his claim to the title. His current season’s form, with an impressive tally of goals and assists in both domestic and European competitions, further underscored his consistent brilliance.
Lookman’s victory cemented Nigeria’s position as the second most successful nation in the award’s history, surpassing Ivory Coast with seven titles. Only Cameroon, with an impressive eleven titles, boasts a more decorated history. The Nigerian forward faced stiff competition from a formidable field of nominees, including Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, whose second-half performance proved instrumental in the Elephants’ AFCON final victory over Nigeria, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi. Lookman’s triumph, however, underscored his individual brilliance and significant contributions to both club and country.
While Lookman basked in the spotlight, Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also etched her name in the history books, securing her second consecutive Goalkeeper of The Year award. Nnadozie’s instrumental role in Nigeria’s qualification for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after a 16-year absence, coupled with her consistently impressive performances for her club, Paris FC, solidified her status as Africa’s premier female goalkeeper. She successfully defended her title against strong contenders, South Africa’s Andile Dlamini and Morocco’s Khadija Er-Rmichi. However, Nnadozie narrowly missed out on the Women’s Player of The Year award, which went to Zambian captain Barbara Banda, ending Asisat Oshoala’s record reign of six consecutive titles.
The Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national team, continued their dominance on the continental stage, retaining the Women’s National Team of The Year award. This accolade recognized their consistent performance throughout the year, maintaining their position as Africa’s top-ranked team in the FIFA rankings. Nigeria Football Federation President Ibrahim Gusau, while receiving the award, dedicated it to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, highlighting the national significance of the team’s achievement. Despite the women’s team’s success, the Super Eagles missed out on the Men’s Team of The Year award, which was claimed by AFCON champions Ivory Coast, with South Africa’s Bafana Bafana also in contention.
Beyond the individual and team awards, the CAF Awards ceremony recognized achievements across the spectrum of African football. Egyptian giants Al Ahly were named Men’s Club of The Year, while TP Mazembe from DR Congo claimed the women’s equivalent, edging out Nigeria’s Edo Queens. Senegal’s Lamine Camara retained the Men’s Young Player of The Year award, while Egypt’s Doha El Madani took home the women’s equivalent, despite strong competition from Nigeria’s Chiamaka Okwuchukwu. South Africa’s Ronwen Williams secured a double, adding the Men’s Goalkeeper of The Year to his Interclub Player of The Year award. Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy claimed the women’s interclub honour.
The coaching awards saw Ivory Coast’s Emerse Fae recognized as Men’s Coach of The Year, following the Elephants’ AFCON triumph, while TP Mazembe’s Lamia Boumehdi won the women’s award. Finally, Angola’s Cristovao Mabululu rounded off the evening’s accolades, claiming the Goal of The Year award. The 2024 CAF Awards ceremony showcased the depth of talent and the continued growth of African football, with Nigeria playing a prominent role in the continent’s footballing narrative, despite missing out on some of the top honours. The awards highlighted both established stars and emerging talents, promising a bright future for African football. The individual brilliance of players like Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie, combined with the collective strength of teams like the Super Falcons, underscores the continent’s rising prominence in the global football landscape.
