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Ronwen Williams has etched his name into the annals of African football. The South African shot-stopper became the first goalkeeper from his nation to claim the prestigious CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, capping off a phenomenal 2023/24 season that showcased his world-class talent and unrivaled consistency.
Ronwen Williams’ numbers in the 2023/24 season reads: Across domestic, continental, and international competitions, the 32-year-old proved to be an impenetrable wall between the posts, earning praises from all.
49 Clean Sheets: Williams recorded 49 clean sheets across all competitions, a feat unmatched by any goalkeeper on the continent.
17+ Penalties Saved: Whether it was a crucial league fixture, a tense African Football League knockout game, or the pressure-packed AFCON matches, Williams’ ability to save penalties became a defining trait of his season.
At the continental level, Williams led his team to new heights in the African Football League (AFL), where he was crowned AFL Best Goalkeeper. He played a critical role in guiding his club through a grueling tournament, with his reflexes and leadership proving invaluable.
On the international stage, Williams shone brightly at the 2023 AFCON, where South Africa defied the odds to secure a third-place finish. His heroics earned him the AFCON Best Goalkeeper award, cementing his reputation as Africa’s premier shot-stopper.
Domestically, Williams dominated the DStv Premiership in South Africa. His performances helped his club to league glory, and his personal contributions were recognized with both the DStv Premiership Goalkeeper of the Season award and the coveted PSL Footballer of the Season title.
Williams’ trophy cabinet for the season is a testament to his unmatched consistency and brilliance:
COSAFA Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, CAF Men’s Interclub Player of the Year, Yachine Trophy Nominee
The latter recognition placed Williams among the world’s elite goalkeepers, underscoring his impact not only on African football but also on the global stage.
Ronwen Williams’ triumph at the CAF Awards marks a historic moment for South African football. No goalkeeper from the country had previously claimed this honor, and his win represents a major breakthrough for both South African and COSAFA-region football. It is a testament to his hard work, resilience, and unwavering determination over the years.
Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen have been selected for the 2024 CAF FIFPro men’s Best X1.
The 2023 African Player of the Year, Osimhen, kept his spot in the squad. Mohamed Salah, the captain of Egypt, and Lookman join the 25-year-old in attacking.
He is replaced as Africa’s top player by Lookman. Andre Onana, Mohammed Kudus, Chancel Mbemba, Khalidou Koulibaly, and Achraf Hakimi are also on the list.
Yves Bissouma and Sofyan Amrabat Franck Kessie are the others.
Four Super Falcons players have been selected for the 2024 CAF FIFPro Women’s Best X1.
Michelle Alozie, Osinachi Ohale, Rasheedat Ajibade, and Asisat Oshoala make up the quartet. Ohale plays centre defender, and Alozie plays right back.
The midfield was chosen to include Atletico Madrid star Ajibade, while Oshoala remained in the attacking position.
Four players are also included in the roster for South Africa’s Banyana Banyana, the African champions.
Andile Dlamini, Karabo Dhlamini, Lebohang Ramalepe, and Linda Motlhalo are their names.
Other players on the team include Ghizlane Chebbak of Morocco, Barbara Banda of Morocco, and Tabitha Chawingwa of Malawi.
On Monday night, Banda was named the new African Women’s Player of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards.
President Bola Tinubu congratulates Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman on winning the 2024 CAF Men’s African Footballer of the Year.
President Tinubu also hails Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie for clinching the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award and the Super Falcons for being named the Women’s National Team of the Year.
The awards were announced Monday night at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco.
The President joins millions of Nigerians in celebrating these athletes, describing them as worthy ambassadors for showcasing their talent and bringing honour to the country on the continental and world stage.
The President believes that this recognition by Africa’s highest football authority will inspire other upcoming athletes to remain steadfast in pursuing their dreams.
He affirms that their determination, discipline and confidence underscore the administration’s resolve to build a better Nigeria where everyone thrives and succeeds.
‘‘These athletes embody the essential Nigerian Spirit. They signpost the best in us as a nation. Let no one ever write us off. I am incredibly proud of them.
‘‘Thank you for making Nigeria proud and keeping our flag flying.
‘‘Thank you for winning medals for Nigeria both at home and abroad. You will win more in the future,’’ the President said
Nigeria and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie were among the biggest winners at this year’s Confederation of African Football, CAF, awards.
Lookman won the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award ahead of Simon Adingra, Achraf Hakimi, Williams and Serhou Guirassy.
Williams, on the other hand, won both the Men’s Interclub Player of the year award and the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Also, Nnadozie won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
Here is full list of all winners at this year’s CAF awards:
CAF Men’s Player of the Year award – Lookman
Women’s Interclub Player of the year – Sanaa Mssoudy
Men’s Interclub Player of the year – Ronwen Williams
Women’s Club of the Year – TP Mazembe
Men’s Club of the Year – Al Ahly FC.
Men’s National Team of the Year – Ivory Coast.
Women’s National Team of the Year – Nigeria
Men’s Young Player of the Year – Lamine Camara
Women’s Young Player of the Year – Doha El Madani.
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Chiamaka Nnadozie
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year – Ronwen Williams
Women’s Coach of the Year – Lamia Boumehdi
Men’s Coach of the Year – Emerse Fae
Goal of the Year – Angola’s Mabululu
Zambia Women’s National team captain Barbra Banda has become the first Zambian to win the CAF Women’s Player of the Year Award.
Banda beat fierce competition from Morocco’s star striker Sana Mssoudy and Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie to clinch the 2024 award at a glittering ceremony at the Palais des Congres de Marrakech in Hivernage district.
At the same awards ceremony, Banda also made the CAF/FIFPRO Africa XI 2024.The Orlando Pride striker joins South Africans Noko Matlou and Thembi Kgatlana as the only players from Southern Africa to have ever claimed the honor largely won by West Africans.
Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala has won it a record six times.The 2024 CAF Awards covered the period from January to October this year.
Banda was recently named the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year 2024 and became the first African to be named in the 2024 FIFPRO Women’s World 11, a global recognition determined by votes from 7,000 professional footballers.
At the Paris 2024 Olympic Games where she netted four goals for the Copper Queens during the tournament, Banda made history as the first player in women’s football to score three hat-tricks in Olympic games.
In her debut season in the National Women’s Soccer League with Orlando Pride, Banda was instrumental in her team’s success, scoring 13 goals and 6 assists during the regular season.
Her impactful performance in the playoffs, including scoring the game-winning goal in the final, earned her the Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolade.
Ademola Lookman, who won the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, has expressed his joy.
On Monday night, in a lavish ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, Lookman was named the best player in Africa.
In 2024, the 27-year-old helped his club and country with 12 assists and 27 goals.
Atalanta defeated Bayer Leverkusen to win the trophy in the Europa League final thanks to a hat-trick from the Nigerian international.
Additionally, he was included in the Europa League Team of the Year.
“I want to thank almighty God for everything that He’s been doing in my life He’s been blessing me with,” said Lookman from the stage.
“I want to thank the Presidents, all my teammates, club and country, for their support and the love that they give me.
“This award is for me, my family, my nation and to be recognise as the best player in Africa is something incredible. I am extremely proud.
“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this, don’t let your failures weigh you down or break your wings. Turn your pain into your power and continue to fly. God bless.”
Africa’s top performers for the year were recognised at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday. South Africa’s goalie Ronwen Williams, Zambia’s Barbra Banda, and Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman were victorious.
Football aristocracy from across the continent and beyond attended the glitzy event, which celebrated the game’s remarkable expansion and development in Africa as well as the extraordinary advancements made in men’s and women’s football in recent years.
CAF Men’s Player of the Year
Following in the footsteps of fellow countryman Victor Osimhen, who won the accolade in 2023, Lookman was voted CAF Men’s Player of the Year following an incredible 12 months with Italian team Atalanta and Nigeria’s Super Eagles.
Since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were recognised nearly thirty years ago, Nigeria has never had back-to-back winners of the Men’s prize.
CAF Women’s Player of the Year
Bandra Banda took over from Asisat Oshoala as she was crowned the new CAF Women’s player of the Year.
She scored the game-winning goal in the final against Washington Spirit to lead Orlando Pride to the NWSL Shield and Championship, taking the 2024 National Women’s Soccer League season in the US by storm.
Her third Olympic Games football hat-trick for Zambia at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris set a record for the competition and made her one of the greatest players of all time.
In 2024, Banda was the first African player to be selected for the FIFPRO Women’s World 11.
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year & Men’s Interclub Player of the Year awards
Williams won both the Men’s Interclub Player of the Year and Men’s Keeper of the Year titles, making him the only double winner of the evening.
He will be remembered for his incredible penalty saves at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Cote d’Ivoire 2023, including four in the quarterfinal shootout victory over Cape Verde, where he led South Africa to the bronze.
As Mamelodi Sundowns easily won their eighth consecutive domestic league title, the 32-year-old assisted his team in setting a joint record low of just 11 goals given up in 30 games in the South African Premiership.
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
Following another stellar season for Paris FC, where she was voted Première Ligue Goalkeeper of the Season for 2023–24, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year title for the second consecutive year.
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
Sanaâ Mssoudy, a forward for AS FAR and Morocco, received the Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award after winning the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League Best Player title.
Men’s Young Player of the Year
The Men’s Young Player of the Year was Senegal and Monaco’s Lamine Camara, a versatile box-to-box midfielder who excelled for both club and nation with his impressive performances.
Women’s Young Player of the Year
Doha El Madani, a 19-year-old Moroccan and AS FAR player, won the Women’s Young Player of the Year award after scoring six goals in five games to win the Golden Boot at the 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League.
Men’s Coach of the Year
After leading Cote d’Ivoire from the verge of elimination to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations triumph on home soil in one of the biggest international sporting events of 2024, Emerse Fae was named the Men’s Coach of the Year.
Women’s Coach of the Year
The 2024 CAF Women’s Champions League title was won by Moroccan tactician Lamia Boumehdi, who was crowned Women’s Coach of the Year after leading TP Mazembe from the DR Congo to victory over AS FAR in the final.
Men’s National Team Of The Year
Cote d’Ivoire’s continental crown saw them named Men’s National Team of the Year.
Women’s National Team Of The Year
Nigeria’s Super Falcons were the Women’s National Team of the Year.
In other awards, Al Ahly’s fourth TotalEnergies CAF Champions League win in five years made them worthy winners of Men’s Club of the Year, while TP Mazembe took home the Women’s Club of the Year.
Goal of the Year was won by Angola’s Mabululu for his audacious finish against Namibia at the continental finals in Cote d’Ivoire. This was the only award voted for by fans.
In line with the commitment of CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe at last year’s event, match officials were also honoured at the 2024 CAF Awards, Mutaz Ibrahim of Libya was named Men’s Referee of the Year, while Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi was Women’s Referee of the Year.
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue of Cameroon was awarded Men’s Assistant Referee of the Year and Zambia’s Diana Chikotesha the Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year.
The Men’s CAF-FIFPRO Africa Best XI for Men and women were also named and honoured the top performers from the continent in each position.
2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS
CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)
CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)
CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)
CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)
CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)
CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)
CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)
CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Cote d’Ivoire
CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Nigeria
CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Al Ahly (Egypt)
CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)
CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)
CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)
CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)
CAF GOAL OF THE YEAR
Mabululu (Angola)
Super Eagles and Atalanta forward , Ademola Lookman had been crowned Africa ln Footballer of the Year Award at the Confederation of African Football’s awards presentation on Monday.
Lookman beat South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi to be crowned winner.
The forward took over the crown from Victor Osimhen who won the award last year and became the ninth Nigerian to receive the honour.
The other past Nigerian champions are Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Victor Ikpeba, and Nwankwo Kanu (twice).
A panel comprising captains and coaches of the national teams votes for the award; however, no information regarding the voting results was immediately made available.
The 27-year-old helped Nigeria get to the Africa Cup of Nations final in Ivory Coast earlier this year and scored a hat-trick to assist his Italian team, Atalanta, defeat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final in Dublin in May.
At the AFCON tournament, he scored three goals. Lookman, who was born in London and has played for Everton, Fulham, and Leicester City in the English Premier League, scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season and has already scored 11 this year.
Super Eagles winger, Ademola Lookman, has been named the CAF Footballer of the Year for the past year.
Lookman was announced as the winner at an elaborate event in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.
The Atalanta star won the prize ahead of Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
It has been an incredible year for Lookman, who became the first player to score a hat-trick in the Europa League/UEFA Cup final since 1975, netting the three goals within 26 minutes against Bayer Leverkusen.
Lookman was included in the Team of the Year for the Europa League, and ended the season having had a direct hand in 18 top flight goals for La Dea.
The 27-year-old was ranked the 14th best player during the Ballon d’Or gala on October 28.
Former Morocco striker Salaheddine Bassir has expressed confidence in Achraf Hakimi’s chances of winning the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
Bassir, Morocco’s Footballer of the Year in 1997, believes the Paris Saint-Germain defender is the favorite to claim the prestigious honor.
Hakimi faces competition from Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta), Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).
Lookman had a phenomenal season, including a Europa League final hat-trick for Atalanta.
He also had an impressive Africa Cup of Nations campaign, where he scored three goals and helped Nigeria reach the final.
Despite this, Bassir remains confident in Hakimi’s case, saying:
“I am optimistic about choosing Achraf Hakimi as the best African player for 2024, and I hope there will be no surprises like last year,” Bassir told reporters.
He also referenced the 2023 award, where Hakimi and goalkeeper Yassine Bono were overlooked despite outstanding seasons, with the award going to Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.
Lookman, aiming to join Nigerian legends like Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Osimhen as African Player of the Year winners, remains a strong challenger.
However, Bassir believes this year’s prize should go to Hakimi, as Morocco seeks its first win in the category since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has won the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.
Nnadozie was announced as winner of the award at the 2024 CAF awards in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night.
In other awards Falconets striker Chiamaka Okwuchukwu missed out on the 2025 CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year.
Okwuchukwu and Egypt’s Habiba Sabry lost out to Morocco’s Doha El Madani.
In the Men’s Young Player of the Year categor, the award went to Lamine Camara of Senegal.
Camara has now won the Men’s Young Player of the Year award for the second year in a row.
From the Cairo the headquarters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), comes this report that CAF Executive Committee and 54 Member Associations Presidents are expected to meet on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco.
The meeting, will be chaired by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe. The Executive Committee will also discuss the 2025 CAF Calendar, amongst other matters.
The CAF Executive Committee will be followed by a meeting of the 54 CAF Member Associations Presidents, CAF EXCO and CAF President Dr Motsepe.
Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman has been included in the final nominees for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
This is the first time the Atalanta star has been included in the final shortlist.
Lookman had an exemplary year for both club and country.
The 27-year-old scored three goals and registered one assist in seven appearances for the Super Eagles at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
The winger also scored a historic hat-trick for Atalanta in the final of the UEFA Europa League.
Lookman has so far racked up 11 goals and five assists from 18 outings across all competitions for La Dea this season.
He will battle Simon Adingra, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, and Ronwen Williams for the prestigious award.
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