Former Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, has tipped Ademola Lookman as the frontrunner for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, citing his stellar performances for both club and country this year.
Lookman, who made his Africa Cup of Nations debut for Nigeria in February, scored three goals and provided one assist at the tournament, cementing his status as a key player for the Super Eagles.
The highlight of his year came in the UEFA Europa League final, where he delivered an extraordinary hat-trick against Bayer Leverkusen, ending their 51-game unbeaten streak and securing the trophy for Atalanta.
This historic feat made Lookman the first player to score a hat-trick in a Europa League final.
Rohr, speaking to Foot Africa, praised Lookman’s transformation:
“He has made a lot of progress. His difficult first seasons in England and Germany are now a thing of the past. He has managed to get back up and shine.
I followed him a few years ago with the Super Eagles.
He went from the shadows to the light. Today, he is a complete player, as effective as an assister as he is as a scorer.”
The Atalanta forward faces stiff competition from other nominees, including Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, Ronwen Williams, and Simon Adingra.
However, with 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions for Atalanta this season, Lookman remains the overwhelming favorite to claim the prestigious award.
