With Nigerian superstar Ademola Lookman tipped to become the 2024 CAF Footballer of the Year, here's a look at the Atalanta star's road to be among the best players on the planet right now!
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The Super Eagles attacker has enjoyed a brilliant last 12 months, as he helped Atalanta clinch their first ever UEFA Europa League title last term.
Lookman scored a perfect hat-trick in the final of the Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen, becoming the first player to score a three goals in the final of the tournament since 1975.
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His stunning feat was also accompanied by brilliant displays in Serie, as he finished the 2023/24 season with a career-best of 17 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
His 2024 Ballon d'Or award nomination was the pick of the bunch in terms of his achievements, as he is the only African star to be shortlisted for the latest edition of the prestigious prize.
As such, shouts for the 26-year-old to become the next CAF Men's Player of the Year have seemingly increased, while some publications on the continent has mooted Brahim Diaz to win the prize after he won three trophies with Real Madrid last season, including the UEFA Champions League.
At the moment, CAF are yet to confirm when their awards ceremony will take place but the 2023 edition took place in December 2023, with Victor Osimhen claiming the esteem accolade.
The CAF POTY award is the ultimate honour on the continent, with legends like Samuel Eto'o, Yaya Toure, George Weah, Didier Drogba, and Mohamed Salah having etched their names in continental history.
With Lookman being born in London in England to Nigerian parents, it would seemingly be a meaningfully unforgettable moment to the winger, as it would be an emphatic justification for his decision to switch allegiance to from England to Nigeria in 2022.
According to Transfermarkt, the Atalanta talisman has played 25 games for Nigeria to date, contributing eight goals and four assists in addition to making the Team of the Tournament at 2023 Africa Cup of Nations after helping the west-African giants to a silver-medal finish at the showpiece earlier this year.
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