Nigeria international Ademola Lookman gave an emotional yet brief speech on Monday night as he was declared African Player of the Year at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) Awards.
The award ceremony was held in Marrakech, Morocco.
On receiving the award, Lookman greeted Nigerians in Yoruba language and said:”Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years, I’m the best player in Africa.”
He dedicated the award to his teammates, family and fans who have supported him throughout his career.
The Atalanta forward encouraged young people to keep believing in themselves even when the odds are against them.
Lookman was instrumental in both his club’s success in Serie A and Nigeria’s qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
His standout performances, including crucial goals in the UEFA Europa League and consistent brilliance in domestic competitions, solidified his position as one of Africa’s brightest stars.
Lookman edged out competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams to claim the coveted award.
In October, he ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or standings and was the only African listed.
In May, Lookman became the first player to score a hat-trick in UEFA Europa League final as Atalanta stunned Bayer Leverkusen 3-0, dramatically halting the Bundesliga champions’ 51-match unbeaten run in all competitions.
