The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has thrown its weight behind Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who are in the run for CAF Player of the Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Lookman and Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF event, as the country is in line for seven awards.
The NFF released a statement titled ‘2024 CAF Awards: Lookman is the man, whichever way you look at it!’ on the eve of the ceremony.
Lookman, a 27-year-old player from Atalanta Star, is competing for the men’s Player of The Year Award alongside Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
“All things being equal, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman should be crowned the African Player of the Year at Monday evening’s 2024 CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrès in the Moroccan city of Marrakech,” NFF’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, wrote.
“None of the four other final nominees comes close. Ivorian Simon Adingra, whose remarkable second-half performance saw the Elephants overcome Nigeria in the AFCON Final in Abidjan on February 11, cannot point to such a glittering record with English Premier League club Brighton.”
Nnadozie will also be vying for two awards, as she is a finalist for the Women’s Player of the Year award alongside Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda.
The Paris FC shot-stopper is also a favourite to win the Women’s Keeper of the Year award for the second time in succession.
“In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is a worthy contender for the Player of the Year (won for the sixth time last year by compatriot Asisat Oshoala), and the gong will cap a remarkable year for the soft-spoken safe hands who helped Nigeria reappear at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years, was key to the Falcons’ qualification for next year’s AFCON, and drew rave reviews all around with French club Paris FC.”
If both players win in the top categories, Nigeria will produce winners of both awards for the third time, following Nwankwo Kanu and Mercy Akide-Udoh in 1999 and Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala in 2023.
Lookman’s credentials for the men’s award include a pivotal three goals and two assists that propelled Nigeria to their eighth AFCON final in Ivory Coast in February, as well as a hat-trick in a 3-0 win over the previously dominant German side Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Europa League in May.
This season, he has 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta (including a goal against record winners Real Madrid FC in the UEFA Champions League) and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th AFCON finals, with two other goals controversially disallowed.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles and Super Falcons are vying for National Team of the Year.
The Super Eagles were nominated alongside AFCON 2023 champions Ivory Coast and South Africa, while the Super Falcons were nominated alongside Morocco and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana team.
Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, a Falconets and Rivers Angels forward, was also selected as one of three finalists for the Women’s Young Player of the Year award, along with FC Masar’s Habiba Sabry and Asfar’s Doha El Madani.
Chiamaka was a standout at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, despite the Falconets’ early exit. She led Nigeria to the round of 16, scoring two goals and providing one assist.
To round up an excellent list of nominees for Nigerian women’s football, Edo Queens, the Nigeria Women Football League champions, will compete for the Women’s Club of the Year title, alongside CAF Women’s Champions League winners TP Mazembe and Asfar.
