Julius OkorieAll eyes will be on the Moroccan City of Marrakech tonight as the 15th edition of the annual CAF awards holds to as usual recognise players, coaches, and teams that have been exception within the season.
Already creme de la creme of the football fraternity in the continent led by CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe have already stormed the city for this prestigious August occasion.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSuper Eagles and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, is one of the top contenders to CAF Footballer of the year award.
The 27-year-old former England junior international, has been in superb form for both club and country and has been tipped in some quarters clinch the gong. His exploits in the course of the season include leading Atalanta to clinch the Europa league title at the expense of Leverkusen where he humbled compatriot Victor Boniface and his teammates in the finals of the Europa league.
READ ALSO: 2024 Ballon d’Or: Ademola Lookman Only African In 30-man List
His hat-trick on that occasion was all that was needed to hand Atalanta victory. At the national level he contributed in no small measure to Super Eagles making it to the final of the last AFCON in Cup in Cote d Ivoire, where they team narrowly lost to hosts and eventual winners Elephants of Cote d Ivoire.
Recall that one of his exploits during the said AFCON was scoring a brace against indomitable lions of Cameroon in the round of 16.
Lookman who has scored eight goals in 27 appearances for the Super Eagles has also to his credit 32 goals in 75 appearances for Atalanta since joining the Serie A side from Leicester City in 2022.
This season alone he has scored eight goals in 13 matches for Atalanta with four assists.
Lookman, whose efforts earned a 14th place finish in this year’s Ballon d Or,is not the only Nigerian in running for CAF award tonight. Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie is also in the race in the women’s category and is sure to have a running battle with Copper Queens of Zambia’s captain Barbara Banda who has been very impressive for the national team both at this year’s Olympics and Women Africa cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Victor Osimhen is the reigning African Footballer of the year while three time winner, Asisat Oshoala, is the reigning Africa Women footballer of the year. Both stars will get to know their replacement tonight.
Both Super Eagles and Super Falcons are also in the race for national team of the year.
Edo Queens, the Nigeria Women Football League champions, are also in contention for the Women’s Club of The Year award, competing against esteemed teams such as CAF Women’s Champions League winners TP Mazembe and Asfar. Edo Queens missed the third place finish at the recently concluded CAF Women’s Champions League in Morocco after losing 4-3 to FC Masar of Egypt.
There will be 17 different categories of award tonight as follow:
- Men’s Player of the Year
- Women’s Player of the Year
- Men’s Coach of the Year
- Women’s Coach of the Year
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year
- Men’s Interclub Player of the Year
- Women’s Interclub Player of the Year
- Men’s Young Player of the Year
- Women’s Young Player of the Year
- Men’s National Team of the Year
- Women’s National Team of the Year
- CAF/FIFPro Africa Best XI (Men)
14.CAF/FIFPro Africa Best XI (Women)
- Africa FIFPro Best XI
16.Women Africa FIFPro Best XI
- Goal of the Year
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
