Ahead of Monday’s (today’s) CAF awards ceremony in Marrakesh, Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation 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 Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie lead Nigeria’s contest for honours at this year’s CAF event, as the country is in line for seven awards.
The men’s category is locked in a tight race between Lookman and four other contenders. The 27-year-old will vie for the men’s Player of The Year Award where with Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
On the eve of the ceremony, the NFF in a statement titled; ‘2024 CAF Awards: Lookman is the man, whichever way you look at it!’ went all out to root for the Atalanta Star and the goalkeeper.
“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 Congrés 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 gunning for two honours as she is in the mix for the Women’s Player of The Year award along with Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda. The Paris FC shot-stopper is also a favourite for a back-to-back win in the Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year category.