Nigerian Striker Lookman Ademola Wins African Footballer of the Year, Edging Out Morocco’s Hakimi

The Nigerian Lookman Ademola was named African Footballer of the Year 2024, ahead of the Moroccan right-back of PSG, Achraf Hakimi, the Guinean Serhou Guirassy, the Ivorian Simon Adingra and the South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams, succeeding his compatriot Victor Osimhen, winner in 2023. The striker owes this recognition to his remarkable performance this year and his essential contribution to Atalanta Bergame’s triumph in the Europa League. He scored 11 goals and provided 5 assists in all competitions in 18 matches. Ademola was a finalist in the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN Côte d’Ivoire).

With PSG, Achraf Hakimi was crowned French champion and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League last season. With the Moroccan Olympic team, he won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, participating with a magnificent goal against Egypt in the 3rd place match (6-0). But these exploits proved insufficient to allow the Moroccan right-back to win the African Ballon d’Or.

The award of the African Ballon d’Or to Lookman dashed the high hopes of Moroccan supporters to see Hakimi become the fifth Moroccan in history to win this award, after Ahmed Faras, Mohamed Timoumi, Badou Zaki and Mustapha Hadji. However, Moroccan supporters can rejoice: prizes have been won by Moroccan athletes. Bouchra Karboubi was elected best female referee in Africa. Her compatriot Doha El Madani, a player for AS FAR, was named best young player on the continent.

Sanae Mssoudy, also a player for AS FAR, was awarded the prize for best local player in Africa. As for Lamia Boumehdi, coach of the TP Mazembe women’s team in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she was named best coach in Africa.