CAF

Former Borussia Dortmund and AS Monaco striker Victor Ikpeba has endorsed Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman to win the prestigious 2024 African Men’s Player of the Year award.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently unveiled a 10-man shortlist for the award, with Lookman emerging as a key contender.

CAF’s 10-Man Shortlist Announced
CAF revealed the names of 10 African football stars in the running for the continent’s most coveted individual prize. Joining Ademola Lookman on the list, Paris St Germain and Morocco star Achraf Hakimi, Ivorian and Brighton winger Simon Adingra, Chancel Mbemba from the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guinea’s Stuttgart forward Serhou Guirassy from .

Also nominated are Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong, Sofiane Rahimi from Morocco, Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, Edmond Tapsoba from Burkina Faso, and Amine Gouiri from Algeria.

Lookman’s Stellar Year
Lookman, 27, made headlines with a historic hat-trick for Atalanta in the Europa League final, helping the Italian club secure their first-ever European trophy.

His stellar performance for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast further boosted his standing. He scored three goals as Nigeria reached the final. The Nigerian winger’s exceptional season also earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, making him the only African player on the prestigious list.

Ikpeba’s Endorsement
In an interview with SportsBoom.com, Ikpeba, who won the African Player of the Year award in 1997, voiced his support for Lookman. “It’s rare to see a player perform like Lookman did this year, not just with the goals, but with commitment, sacrifice and character.”

“He’s by far the best player in Africa. He had a fantastic season with his club, and scoring a hat-trick in the Europa League final is no mean feat. He was excellent at AFCON as well,” Ikpeba who won the award in 1997 said.

Troost-Ekong: Lookman’s Closest Rival
However, Lookman faces stiff competition, particularly from compatriot William Troost-Ekong.

Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2023 AFCON, where he led Nigeria to a second-place finish, scoring two goals. The veteran defender also won the Greek league title with PAOK Salonika last season.

Despite Troost-Ekong’s achievements, Ikpeba remains confident in Lookman’s chances: “Lookman has no rival. There is nothing on earth that can stop him from winning the award this year.”

Victor Boniface’s Omission
One of the surprises was the omission of Boniface Victor from the shortlist. Despite winning a domestic double with Bayer Leverkusen, securing a Europa League silver medal, and being named Rookie of the Year in the Bundesliga after scoring 21 goals and assisting 10 in 34 matches, he did not make the cut.

“Boniface not playing at AFCON affected him, and he had his injury crisis. But winning the double with Bayer is huge. It would have been nice to see him on the list or in the top three,” Ikpeba noted.

Nigerian Players’ Recent Success
Victor Osimhen became the first Nigerian player in 25 years to win the award last year. Ikpeba expressed excitement at the possibility of Nigeria claiming back-to-back titles with both Lookman and Troost-Ekong as strong contenders.

“It’s great to see Nigerian players winning the award back-to-back. Osimhen is the current holder, and I hope Lookman can get it,” Ikpeba said. “I think Boniface, Osimhen, and Lookman will dominate the podium for some time if they maintain their current form. They are showing top quality every week and are in their prime.”

Award Ceremony
The winner of the 2024 African Player of the Year award will be announced on December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.