A multitude of guests gathered at Marrakech, Morocco, adorned in stunning attire and brimming with excitement to witness the CAF 2024 award ceremony. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) brought together the best players, teams, and coaches from across the continent. Among the many honors presented, the African Player of the Year award stood out as the most prestigious, being one of the most coveted individual trophies.

This year, five exceptional players vied for the title on both the men's and women’s sides.

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Ademola’s Big Win

The Nigerian superstar emerged victorious, edging out Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, who was also a strong contender. The Atalanta player’s extraordinary 2024 season, was highlighted by a hat-trick in Europa League final that led his team to triumph over Bayer Leverkusen. This is the second succession of a Nigerian winning the award following Victor Osihmen who bagged the position the previous year.

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Lookman’s stellar performance has continued into the 2024/2025 session, helping Atalanta challenge for the Series A title.

Hakimi, who aimed to become the first-ever defender since the inception in 1992, fell short despite an impressive year with PSG. Other nominees include Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast/Brighton),Serhou Guirassy (Guinea/Borussia Dortmund) Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns).

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Nigerian Women's Football Shines Bright

The night also brought significant recognition for Nigerian women in football. Chiamaka Nnadozie, the goalkeeper for Paris FC and the Super Falcons, won the Goalkeeper of the Year award for her outstanding performances.

Additionally, the Nigerian Super Falcons were honoured as the Women’s National Team of the Year, marking a great feat for Nigerian heritage and our dominance in African football. It was definitely a night that beautified the country’s legacy on a continental stage.

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