Julius Okorie
Super Eagles and Atalanta Star, Ademola Lookman, is leading the pack of contenders for this year’s CAF Best Awards, even as the continental soccer ruling body confirmed Morocco as hosts of the award.
The prestigious annual event known for bringing crème dela crème of football stakeholders together under one roof, will take place this year on Monday December 16.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThis will be the third consecutive year the awards will be holding in Morocco though CAF is yet to confirm whether this year’s edition will still hold in the country’s city of Marrakech, venue of the previous two editions.
This annual awards ceremony is renowned for recognizing and honouring the finest football talents from across the African continent, celebrating their remarkable achievements and contributions to the beautiful game within the season under consideration.
Last year, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen was honoured as the best men’s player in Africa, while Nigerian forward Asisat Oshoala took home the women’s prize.
This year, the competition for the prestigious CAF Footballer of the Year award is likely to be fierce, with a strong lineup of contenders.
Should Ademola Lookman who has become a must play for both club and country clinch the award, he would join the league of Nigerians who have won award over the years including Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Amuneke who is current coach of Heartland among others.
Here are Top Five Players That will Battle for the Awards in the Men’s Category:
- Ademola Lookman
Ademola Lookman has had an exceptional calendar year, establishing himself as a pivotal player for the Nigerian national team during the AFCON tournament, where he scored three crucial goals.
His contributions have made him a significant contender for the top gong, reflecting his growing influence within African football.
In the year under review, the 26-year-old supporting striker helped the Super Eagles of Nigeria to reach the final of the 2023 AFCON which they lost to the host, Ivory Coast. He also led Atalanta to win the 2023-2024 Europa League in which he scored a hat-trick in the final.
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Lookman ended the season with a season-best 17 goals and 10 assists in 45 games in all competitions for Atalanta.
- Mohamed Salah
Despite not too impressive run at the last AFCON in Ivory Coast, the Egyptian maestro has been prolific for Liverpool, scoring 25 goals in 44 matches during the previous season.
His scoring prowess has already resumed this season, as he started strong, netting 3 goals in the first three matches of the 2024/2025 season.
Salah’s consistent performances have solidified his place as a frontrunner in the power rankings for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award.
- Serhou Guirassy
VfB Stuttgart’s Serhou Guirassy emerged as a top contender for the CAF Best Awards following an outstanding performance in the Bundesliga.
He finished last season as the highest-scoring African player in the league, trailing only Bayern Munich’s Harry Kane in overall scoring.
However, he faced setbacks during the AFCON tournament as he struggled with fitness issues, which hindered his ability to replicate his club’s success on the international stage
- Victor Boniface
The 23-year-old Nigerian forward enjoyed a breakout season with Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga title in his debut year with the club.
Boniface displayed exceptional form, scoring 14 league goals in just 23 matches and playing an instrumental role in securing the German Bundesliga title for Leverkusen – a monumental achievement as it marked their first Bundesliga title in history. They also made it to the Europa League final which they lost to Atalanta.
- Sebastien Haller
The Ivorian striker had an impressive start to the year, netting a goal in the AFCON final, which significantly contributed to Ivory Coast’s triumph on home soil.
He also played a crucial role for Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League, helping the team reach the finals where they were runners-up to Real Madrid.
Despite the successes he recorded with his club and country, Haller faced challenges last season, finishing with only three goals in 19 appearances across all club competitions.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
