By McGeorge Mbare
Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, Zambia’s Barbra Banda and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams were the big winners as Africa celebrated the best on the continent in footballing terms at 2024 CAF Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco.
Lookman emerged the best in the male category as he was crowned the 2024 CAF men’s player of the year. Lookman made a pivotal contribution to both his club Atalanta‘s success in the Serie A and the Super Eagles during its AFCON tournament expedition where they finished the runners up.
The Nigerian forward’s win is historic in that its the second time that Nigeria has won back to back CAF Men’s player of the year award a feat last achieved in almost 30 years ago by Nwanko Kanu and Victor Ikpeba in 1996 and 1997. Lookman followed the footsteps of his teammate Victor Osimhen, who won this award in 2023.Additionally, Lookman‘s win makes Nigeria most successful country in terms of winning the CAF player of the year award.
Meanwhile, Ronwen Williams has been crowned the Men’s Goalkeeper of the year and Men ‘s interclub player of the year.
Williams had a spectacular year and his brilliant decisive penalty saves at the AFCON2023 will forever be in the football history books including four of the quarter final shootout against Cape Verde as he led South Africa to a bronze medal podium finish. Williams also became the first African based goalie to be nominated in Yashin trophy at them 2024 Ballon d’or.
Zambian forward Barbra Banda‘s impressive year in the United States defined her CAF accolades. She has been crowned the CAF Women‘s player of the year after helping Orlando Pride to the National Women’s Soccer league championship, scoring a hat-trick for Zambia at the Paris Olympics 2024. The Zambian also became Africa’s all-time leading appearance at the competition and appeared as the first African player to be included in the FIFAPRO Women ‘s World 11 in 2024.
Here are the rest of the winners on the night.
2024 CAF Award winners
CAF Men’s player of the year
-Ademola Lookman [Nigeria]
CAF Women’s player of the year
-Barbra Banda[Zambia]
CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the year
-Ronwen Williams[South Africa]
CAF Women‘s goalkeeper of the year
-Chiamaka Nnadozie [Nigeria]
Women Interclub Player of the year
-Sanna Mssoudy [Morocco]
CAF Young player of the year
-Lamine Carama
CAF Women’s young player of the year
-Doha El Madani
Men’s Coach of the year
-Emerse Fae
Women’s Coach of the year
-Lamia Boumehdi
Men’s team of the year
-Ivory Coast
Women’s team of the year
-Nigeria
Men’s club of the year
-Al Ahly
Women ‘s team of the year
-TP Mazembe
CAF goal of the year
Mabululu [Angola]