Lookman, Troost-Ekong favoured as CAF unveils nominees for 2024 Player of the Year award

Super Eagles duo of forward, Ademola Lookman and captain, William Troost-Ekong are among the 10 nominees unveiled Thursday by the Confederation of African Football, CAF, for the 2024 African Player of the Year award.

Lookman has had a phenomenal 2024, helping Nigeria to a silver medal finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before scoring a hat-trick to secure the Europa League for his Serie A side, Atalanta.

The 27-year-old started his year on a brilliant note at the AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, scoring the goals that secured the quarterfinals and semifinals tickets for Nigeria. He scored the two goals the Super Eagles needed to defeat Cameroun in the round of 16 before slotting home the only goal of the game in the win over Angola to ensure the Nigerians soared to the semifinals.

Lookman was subsequently named into the team of the tournament.

He continued his brilliant run after the tournament, scoring crucial goals that not only helped Atalanta to qualify for the finals of the Europa but also the goals needed for the Bergamo-based side to secure their first European title ever.

Troost-Ekong on his part was the true definition of captain fantastic as he led the Super Eagles to the final of the AFCON, scoring crucial goals along the way.

The 31 year old scored the only goal in Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat of the host country in their group phase win before netting the equalizer in the 1-1 draw against South Africa in the semifinals before also scoring in the penalty shootout win.

Troost-Ekong also scored Nigeria’s solitary goal in the 2-1 loss to Cote d’Ivoire in the final.

He was named the competition’s most valuable player and named into the team of the tournament.

The two Nigerians look in good position for either of them to succeed Victor Osimhen as the 2024 African Player of the year.

Nigeria goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali is also up for goalkeeper of the year award.

The Nominees
Amine Gouiri (Algeria / Rennes)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso / Bayer Leverkusen)
Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton)

Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo / Olympique Marseille)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco / Al Ain)

Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)
William Troost Ekong (Nigeria / Al Kholood)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)