When the lights went up at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech back in December, nobody was actually surprised. Well, maybe a few people were, but if you followed the trajectory of African football over the last twelve months, the outcome felt less like a revelation and more like a coronation. Nigeria’s own Ademola Lookman standing there with that trophy—the African Player of the Year 2024—just made sense.
It’s kinda wild when you think about it.
Lookman wasn't even the "main guy" for the Super Eagles a couple of years ago. But 2024 was different. He didn't just play football; he authored a script that felt too good for a Hollywood B-movie. You’ve got a guy who was once a nomad in the English Premier League, bouncing from Everton to Fulham to Leicester, finally finding his "home" in Bergamo with Atalanta and then just... exploding.
Why Ademola Lookman Won the African Player of the Year 2024
Let’s be real for a second. Winning this award usually requires two things: a deep run in a major international tournament and a "God-tier" performance in Europe. Lookman checked both boxes.
First, there was the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Côte d'Ivoire. While Nigeria ultimately fell short in the final against the hosts, Lookman was the engine. He scored three goals in the knockout stages. He was the guy finding spaces when the big names were being marked out of the game. Then, of course, there was that night in Dublin.
👉 See also: NFL Fantasy Pick Em: Why Most Fans Lose Money and How to Actually Win
The Europa League Final Hat-trick
Honestly, people are still talking about the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen. Leverkusen hadn't lost a game in 51 matches. Fifty-one! Xabi Alonso’s "invincibles" looked untouchable until Lookman decided to score a hat-trick. Three goals. One left foot, one right foot, and a clinical finish to top it off. That single performance basically sealed the deal for the African Player of the Year 2024.
It wasn't just that he scored; it was how he dismantled a defense that had frustrated the best teams in the world all season long. It was the kind of performance that shifts the narrative from "he's a good player" to "he's the best on the continent."
The Controversy: Who Was Left Out?
Now, we have to talk about the elephant in the room. The shortlist for the African Player of the Year 2024 caused a bit of a meltdown on social media. Basically, everyone was asking: "Where is Victor Boniface? Where is Mo Salah?"
It’s a fair question. Boniface was instrumental in Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title. Salah is... well, Salah. He’s consistently one of the best in the world. But CAF (the Confederation of African Football) tends to weigh the AFCON very heavily. Since Boniface missed the tournament due to injury and Egypt went out earlier than expected, they both missed the final cut.
✨ Don't miss: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
- Serhou Guirassy: The Guinea international had a freakish season with Stuttgart, scoring goals at a rate that rivaled Harry Kane for a while. He was the biggest threat to Lookman's crown.
- Achraf Hakimi: Always a bridesmaid, it seems. The Moroccan defender is arguably the best right-back in the world, but defenders rarely win this award unless they do something truly miraculous.
- Ronwen Williams: The South African keeper was the breakout star of AFCON, saving four penalties in a single shootout. He actually made history by being nominated for both Player of the Year and Goalkeeper of the Year, winning the latter.
Beyond the Men's Award: A Big Night for Zambia
While the world was focused on the men’s category, Barbra Banda was busy making her own history. She was named the Women’s African Player of the Year 2024, and honestly, she might have had a more dominant year than Lookman.
Banda has been a force of nature. She moved to the Orlando Pride in the NWSL and just started breaking records immediately. At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she became the first woman to score three hat-tricks in Olympic history. Let that sink in. Not three goals—three hat-tricks. She single-handedly kept Zambia competitive on the global stage.
The Full 2024 CAF Awards Roll of Honor
The ceremony in Morocco wasn't just about the top prize. It was a massive night for several nations, especially Côte d'Ivoire and South Africa.
Emerse Faé took home the Coach of the Year award. You remember him? He was the assistant coach who took over the Ivorian team mid-tournament after they were almost knocked out in the group stages. He then led them to win the whole thing. It’s easily one of the greatest "interim manager" stories in sports history.
🔗 Read more: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Lamine Camara from Senegal grabbed the Young Player of the Year. The kid plays for Monaco and looks like he’s going to be the next big thing in midfield. South Africa’s Ronwen Williams didn't just win Goalkeeper of the Year; he also bagged the Interclub Player of the Year for his work with Mamelodi Sundowns. It’s rare to see a keeper get that much love, but his 2024 was truly special.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Selection
A common misconception is that the African Player of the Year 2024 is just about who scores the most goals in Europe. If that were the case, Guirassy or Salah might have had a stronger argument.
In reality, the voting committee—which includes coaches and captains of African national teams, along with a panel of journalists—looks at "African impact." How did you perform when wearing your national colors? Lookman’s three goals in the AFCON knockouts carried significantly more weight than a random brace in Serie A. It’s about being the hero for the continent, not just for a club in London or Milan.
The Actionable Insight: What’s Next for African Football?
If you're a scout or just a hardcore fan, 2024 showed us that the "old guard" is shifting. We are seeing a move away from the dominance of names like Sadio Mané and Riyad Mahrez. The rise of players like Lookman, Boniface, and Simon Adingra suggests a new era of versatile, high-intensity forwards.
Watch these trends moving into 2025 and 2026:
- The "Atalanta Effect": More African talents are choosing mid-tier European clubs where they can be the focal point, rather than sitting on the bench at a "Big Six" team.
- Goalkeeper Recognition: Ronwen Williams has opened the door for African keepers to be viewed as genuine stars. Expect more investment in specialist coaching across the continent.
- The NWSL Pipeline: Barbra Banda's success proves that the American league is currently the best place for African women to develop into world-beaters.
To keep up with the next cycle, keep an eye on the 2025 AFCON qualifiers. The performances there will dictate who stands on that stage next December. Lookman has set a high bar, but with the talent currently bubbling in Nigeria, Morocco, and Senegal, the race for 2025 is already looking crowded.