Favourites Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie will both know their today when the Confederation of African Football releases the final list for the prestigious CAF Awards for 2024, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The continentโs football governing body will crown the menโs and womenโs African Player of the Year for 2024 on Monday, December 16 at the Palais des Congrรจs in Morocco.
The CAF award recognises athletes who have produced outstanding performances, leading to success for their club and country over the calendar year. Topping the five-man shortlist is Lookman, who was in scintillating form last season, helping his Italian club win the Europa League trophy.
From an original list of 30 top performers in the Menโs Player of the Year category, the number has been trimmed to five, with a final three to be revealed today ahead of the awards ceremony.
Lookman, Moroccoโs Achraf Hakimi, Ivory Coastโs Simon Adingra, Guineaโs Serhou Guirassy and South Africaโs Ronwen Williams are all up for the prestigious prize.
The Nigeria winger and Ballon dโOr nominee, who has been in sensational form for both club and country, has been touted as the favourite for the award. It remains to be seen how much his Europa League final hat-trick for Atalanta will influence proceedings.
After helping Nigeria to a second-place finish at the rescheduled 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, the 27-year-old played a crucial role as he fired Atalanta to a Europa League victory when he scored all three goals in the final against Bayer Leverkusen โ the first player ever to do so โ and earned the Man of the Match award. Lookman was later named the clubโs Player of the Season.
He finished the 2023/24 season with 17 goals while registering 10 assists in all competitions for the club.
The former Everton man has continued his blistering scoring form this season and so far he has registered 10 goals in all competitions this campaign.
In the Womenโs category, Super Falcons goalkeeper, Nnadozie is in contention for CAF Womenโs Player of the Year as well as Best Goalkeeper awards.
In the Player of the Year category, the 23-year-old faces competition from Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga (both from Malawi), Moroccoโs Sanaรข Mssoudy and Zambiaโs Barbra Banda
For the Goalkeeper accolade, she competes against Fideline Ngoy (DR Congo), Khadija Er-Rmichi (Morocco), and South Africaโs Andile Dlamini.
Adding to Nigeriaโs strong representation, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu, a rising star from Rivers Angels, has been shortlisted for Young Player of the Year, joining four other promising talents from Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa.
The Super Falcons are among the contenders for Womenโs National Team of the Year, competing with Morocco, South Africa, Zambia, and Cameroon U-20.
Falconets coach Chris Danjuma has also been recognized with a nomination for Womenโs Coach of the Year, highlighting his contributions to Nigeriaโs U-20 team.
On the club front, Edo Queens, reigning Nigerian Women League champions, have earned a spot on the shortlist for Womenโs Club of the Year.
The ceremony will be attended by football stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, as well as legendary players and some of Africaโs finest current stars.
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