Former Super Eagles assistant coach Sylvanus Okpala believes that no player among the remaining nominees for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award comes close to matching the achievements of Super Eagles and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman.
The CAF Awards, set to take place today in Marrakech, Morocco, could see Lookman succeed reigning African Player of the Year Victor Osimhen.
Lookman has enjoyed a phenomenal year, displaying his talent for both club and country.
His contributions were instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the final of the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations in February, where they narrowly lost to Côte d’Ivoire.
The forward scored three goals and provided one assists during the tournament.
At club level, Lookman delivered a masterclass performance in the UEFA Europa League final, scoring a sensational hat-trick to lead Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
His form has remained red-hot this season, with 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances across all competitions, including a standout strike against Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.
Speaking to Brila.net, Okpala praised Lookman for his consistent excellence, stating that he is the most deserving candidate for the prestigious award.
“He has the best chance of winning the African Player of the Year,” Okpala said. “From last season till now, Lookman has been exceptional. He has been a key player for both his club and the Nigerian national team.
“Lookman is not just scoring crucial goals; he’s playing exciting, impactful football. He is the best player in Africa right now. I’m not saying this because he’s Nigerian, but based on what I’ve seen, no other player can match him.”
If Lookman wins, it will mark a historic achievement for Nigerian football, as he would become the second Nigerian in two years to claim the award, following Victor Osimhen’s triumph in 2023.
CAF Awards Details:
Date: Monday, December 16, 2024
Venue: Palais des Congrès, Marrakech, Morocco
Time: 7 PM local time (18:00 GMT / 19:00 WAT / 20:00 CAT / 21:00 EAT)
