Following Ademola Lookman’s coronation as the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year, praise has poured in from various quarters, including the Presidency, the Senate, fellow players, world-class players, among others David Bolarinwa here captures some of these accolades for the Super Eagles and Atalanta forward…...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
The alluring experience at the Palais des Congrès, Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night saw Nigeria and Ballon D’ Or prince rise like a phoenix to be crowned king of Africa amidst conjectural rumours of Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi set to be pronounced winner of the prestigious award.
At the final stages, King Ademola Lookman had to compete with 2023 AFCON winner, Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and South Africa’s goalie, Ronwen Williams to win the prestigious award.
As a result, many have eagerly shared their joy and congratulatory messages to the crowned king. Below are some of the reactions.
Ademola Lookman’s reaction to the CAF POTY Award
Ademola Lookman expressed his immense excitement and gratitude upon receiving the prestigious African Player of the Year award, highlighting the significance of the achievement in his career. He shared the joy of being recognized and awarded among the continent’s best players.
He said: “First, I want to thank the Almighty God for all that he has been doing in my life. I want to thank the President, my teammates at both club and country; I want to thank them for their support and the love that they have given me.
“Today is a blessing to me, my family, and my nation. To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible and I’m extremely proud of this.
“Just four years I failed in front of the world and fast forward four years after, I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this, don’t let your failures weigh you down to break your wings but for a fact, turn your pains to your power and you begin to fly.”
Read Also: Libyan ordeal: Legends highlight lessons for NFF, Nigerian clubs
Speaking at a press conference organised by CAF after the glamorous event, Ademola said,
“It is an incredible achievement and an incredible moment; it is special to join a list of many great players who have achieved a lot in the game. They are legends.
“There are a lot of special moments that happened this year; I can speak about a lot of good moments. But also the bad moments, when you don’t want to do gym, but you end up doing that session and that gives you more strength. The difficult moments have given me that extra strength.”
“For us to be able to give inspiration to the young kids who want to be like us is the most important thing. If we can set a good example, they have good footsteps to follow.”
“I am very appreciative of your love and care, and kind words in the bad moments also, not just the good moments. The people who show you love in the difficult moments are the people who you are most grateful too.”
Reactions across board
Ademola Lookman’s father expressed his immense pride and joy following his son’s victory, highlighting the qualities that have propelled him to success. He praised Lookman’s dedication, humility, and focus, while also encouraging aspiring young players to remain committed to their dreams
“I’m so proud of him because he’s a very committed player.
He’s very humble. He doesn’t like so much publicity because he really wants to focus and that is what has taken over till this level, and I’m as proud of him as his father.
I want to thank them for their support and favourable comments. And I want to thank almighty God as well. I also want to tell the younger ones coming to focus on their dreams and they’ll get there”
Tinubu congratulates Lookman, others for winning awards.
President Bola Tinubu in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, joined millions of Nigerians in celebrating Ademola Lookman, Chiamaka Nnadozie and the Super Falcons as a whole, describing them as worthy ambassadors for showcasing their talent and bringing honour to the country on the continental and world stage.
‘‘These athletes embody the essential Nigerian Spirit. They sign post the best in us as a nation. Let no one ever write us off. I am incredibly proud of them.
‘‘Thank you for making Nigeria proud and keeping our flag flying.
‘‘Thank you for winning medals for Nigeria both at home and abroad. You will win more in the future,’’ the President said.
Dikko acknowledges Lookman’s greatness
National Sports Commission Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, stated that the awards will only serve as a motivation for the nation to continue to do more until it reaches the summit of the beautiful game.
“I congratulate all our winners on the night, especially Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie. These awards are a testament of the hard work a lot of people are putting in, and it comes at a time when Nigerian sports is experiencing a new wave of growth and rejuvenation. It will only energize us to do more and get better because we have high aspirations to reach greater heights.” He said.
Akpabio praises Lookman’s “exceptional skills”
Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio praised Ademola Lookman on receiving the award
“I wish to congratulate one of our finest footballers and an international superstar, Ademola Lookman, on his well-deserved win as the CAF Men’s Player of the Year. This prestigious award is a testament to Lookman’s hard work, dedication, and exceptional skills on the football pitch.” He said.
Reactions From Super Eagles teammates
Ademola Lookman’s historic CAF player of the year award sparked an outpouring of support from his teammates who took to social media to celebrate his remarkable achievement.
Praising his talent and hard work, his fellow players expressed their admiration, with many sharing heartfelt messages congratulating him for being recognized amongst Africa’s best.
Stanley Nwabali said: “We are proud of you @molalookman”; Taiwo Awoniyi said: “Adebobo, well deserved @molalookman”; Victor Boniface said: “Congrats my guy @molalookman”; Joe Aribo said, “Looku Looku @molalookman”; Ola Aina said, “This means everything !!!!! proud of you @molalookman”; William Troost-Ekong said: “Deserved my brother, we are all proud of you @molalookma”; Frank Onyeka said: “well deserved mola @molalookman”; Moses Simon said:“congratulations my Bro @molalookman”; Wilfred Ndidi said: “Adebobo”; Kelechi Iheanacho said: “Only one Adebobo”; Tosin Adarabioyo said: “My brother! THE BEST player in Africa. Well deserved; Nathan Tella said:“congrats broo”. Alex Iwobi and Gift Orban also reacted via their social media pages.
The list seems void of Victor Osimhen, however the 2023 CAF Player of the Year winner affirmed that he has congratulated him replying to an internet user, he said: “Yes bro since yesterday, immediately after my game, sent a text around 23:49 Turkish time. him go reply me soon, cos I know say message choke for him phone wella.”
Global Recognition
The CAF Awards received significant global recognition following Ademola Lookman’s triumph, highlighting the growing prominence of African football on the international stage.
Lookman’s victory not only underscored his outstanding performance and contribution to the sport but also brought renewed focus to the CAF Awards as a prestigious platform for celebrating African football excellence.
The event served as a reminder of the continent’s wealth of talent and its increasing influence in global football, further cementing its status as a cornerstone for honouring achievements and inspiring future generations of players.
Foreign star footballers salute Lookman’s Greatness
Only two months ago, Ademola Lookman was the only African player on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing 14th. This remarkable achievement placed him among the elite in world football, earning praise and congratulations from some of the greatest players in the sport.
Liverpool’s Virgil Van Dijk, Tottenham Hotspur’s Dominic Solanke, Chelsea’s Christopher Nkuku all reacted through the social media platform congratulating the African king.
Historic moment for Nigeria
Since Rashidi Yekini and Emmanuel Amuneke won it in 1993 and 1994 respectively, Nigeria did not record a back to back victory of the prestigious award until Nwankwo Kanu and Victor Ikpeba did another back-to-back in 1996 and 1997.
Victor Osimhen was victorious going against two-time winner, Liverpool man from Egypt Mohamed Salah, as well as Morocco’s PSG star, Archraf Hakimi in 2023.
Scoring 26 goals to help Napoli win the Italian Serie A for the first time in 33 years, emerging top scorer in the league 22/23 season and also firing Nigeria to the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast was enough credentials to claim the best player on the continent.
In similar fashion, Ademola Lookman with 17 goals and provided 10 assists across all competitions for Atalanta during the 2023/2024 season, including a mouthwatering hat-trick in the final of the 2023-24 UEFA Europa League defeating Bayer Leverkusen 3-0 on May 22, 2024 led Atalanta to their first European title.
His poise, grit and stellar performance stood out amongst the other contenders and indeed was crowned Best Player of The Year.
No African country has produced more CAF Player of the Year winners than Nigeria.
Rashidi Yekini – 1993; Emmanuel Amunike – 1994; Kanu Nwankwo – 1996, 1999; Victor Ikpeba – 1997; Victor Osimhen – 2023; Ademola Lookman – 2024.
Lookman’s Career At A Glance
Ademola Lookman’s journey from a young talent with humble beginnings to a renowned football star is a true testament to his determination and skill. Born in England to Nigerian parents, Lookman’s early career began in the local youth ranks before he made his professional debut at Charlton Athletic. His performances in the English Championship quickly earned him a move to the Premier League with Everton in 2017, marking the first major step in his rise.
However, Ademola Lookman’s was quite filled with loan spell, after his time at Everton, Ademola Lookman moved to RB Leipzig in January 2019. He joined the German club on an initial loan deal, which was later made permanent in the summer of 2019, he was then loaned from RB Leipzig to Fulham for the 2020-2021 season. He joined the Premier League club on a season-long loan.
His brief stint at Fulham in the 2020-2021 season was a somewhat disappointing chapter in his career. After joining the Premier League club on loan from RB Leipzig, expectations were high for the talented winger.
However, despite flashes of brilliance, Lookman struggled to make a consistent impact. His time at Fulham was marked by moments of individual skill, but he often found it difficult to integrate into the team’s overall play and contribute to their survival bid in the Premier League.
One of the most unpleasant moments during his Fulham spell was his missed penalty in a crucial match against Leeds United, a miss that drew criticism and highlighted the pressure he was under. Despite the challenges, Lookman did manage to score a few goals, showing glimpses of his potential. However, his loan spell was ultimately seen as a disappointment, with the team relegated at the end of the season.
Lookman’s career reached new heights in 2023 when he joined Atalanta in Italy’s Serie A from RB Leipzig to have a fresh start where his performances helped solidify his reputation as one of Africa’s brightest footballing stars. His dazzling displays for Atalanta were highlighted by his inclusion in the Ballon d’Or shortlist in 2024, making him the first African player to feature in the men’s list that year.
From his early days at Charlton to competing among the world’s best, Ademola Lookman’s journey has been nothing short of inspiring, marking a rise from grass to grace in the world of football. ...CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE➤
Be the first to comment