Atalanta winger Ademola Lookman has arrived in Marrakesh for the #CAFAwards2024 with his family, decked in a Nigerian resplendent green traditional attire.
In 2024, the football world found itself in awe of one name, Lookman.
The Nigerian winger had long been a figure of promise, but no one could have predicted the magnitude of his rise. With the season almost at an end, his achievements were etched in history, and each milestone had been met with thunderous applause.
It all began with a brace in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16, a match that would forever be remembered by Nigerian fans.
Lookman, draped in green and white, had delivered under the most intense pressure, slaloming through defenders and finishing with the coolness of a veteran. His two goals propelled Nigeria into the quarterfinals and added another layer to his growing legend.
But the best was yet to come.
In the AFCON quarter-finals, with the match on a knife’s edge, Lookman emerged as the hero once again. His strike in the dying minutes sealed a 2-1 win, sending Nigeria into the semifinals. It was a goal that embodied his rise—quick, decisive, and clinical.
As the competition progressed, Lookman’s name echoed across Africa. His performances were so consistent, so brilliant, that it seemed as though he was playing with an energy that could not be contained.
By the time the tournament reached its final stages, he had firmly cemented his place in the AFCON Team of the Tournament. Nigeria, though defeated in the final, could not have asked for a more complete player.
Back at his club, Lookman was on a tear, leading them to glory in the Europa League. The final against a fierce rival saw him write yet another chapter in his storied season.
In a stunning display of composure and skill, Lookman scored a magnificent hat-trick—an achievement so rare that it would be talked about for decades. Fans, analysts, and even opposition players could only marvel at the raw talent of the Nigerian.
It wasn’t just his goals that impressed; it was his leadership, his work ethic, his determination.
Lookman had earned over 20 Man of the Match awards across the season, a testament to his ability to deliver when it mattered most. His performances were consistently of the highest standard, game after game.
As the year came to a close, the footballing world was taken aback when, for the first time in history, an African player — Lookman — was nominated for the prestigious Ballon d’Or.
The recognition was not just a personal triumph for Lookman; it was a testament to the rise of African footballers on the global stage.
It was a declaration that Lookman had done something no other African player had done before—achieved greatness both for club and country.
And when the final votes came in, Lookman didn’t win. But it didn’t matter. His place among the elite was secured.
He had done more than anyone could have dreamed. Over 20 Man of the Match awards, an AFCON final appearance, crucial goals at every stage of the tournament, a hat-trick in the Europa League final, and the unthinkable – a nomination for the Ballon d’Or.
No other African player had done more for club and country in 2024. Ademola Lookman had arrived.
And with him, he had brought the future of African football into sharper focus. The world had finally noticed — and the journey was just beginning.
