Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year in a historic event that confirms his status as one of the best players in the world in the current calendar year.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria forward shook off competitions from South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, and Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy to win the prize.
His win means the award remains in Nigeria after teammate Victor Osimhen won it last year.
AdeBobo!!! Today na your day, do shakara! #CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/fdx9luMiA3
READ ALSO: Ballon d’Or: Ademola Lookman Ranked 14th World Best Player
The Atalanta of Italy player, who personally received the award in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday night, described it something as “incredible” which he is “extremely proud of.
Reminiscing on his past struggles as a footballer, the 27-year-old advised young people never to allow their past failures define their future.
“Just over four years ago I failed in front of the world, fast forward to four years I am the best player in Africa,” Lookman recalled.
“I want to say to the young children and young people watching this ‘don’t let your failures weigh you down that they break your wings, turn your pain into your power and continue to fight and continue to fly’, God bless!”
The prize is a recognition of Lookman’s outstanding exploits for the Super Eagles and his club side Atalanta. He was in scintillating form as Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast this year, scoring some vital goals in the process.
Atalanta won its first European trophy in the club’s 104 years of existence in May thanks to Lookman’s ingenuity. The Nigerian scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen to hand the coveted trophy to his club.
His performance in the Europa League final is arguably one of the best individual performances in a European final.
The Super Falcons dominated the women’s team of the year list at the CAF Awards 2024.
Three of them made the CAF FIFPro Women’s Best XI. Asisat Oshoala, Osinachi Ohale, and Michelle Alozie were the four Nigerians on the team.
But Chiamaka Nnadozie who won the Women’s Best Goalkeeper Prize was not included in the team. Instead, it was Andile Dlamini of South Africa manning the post.
The rest are Bambani Mbane
FLAWLESS. ⚽️
Presenting the ’ and it’s as extraordinary as they get! ⁰#CAFAwards2024 | @FIFProAfrica | @FIFPRO pic.twitter.com/UIN6wqj9IW
In the men’s category, only two Nigerians made the team. Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman were listed in the CAF FIFPro Men’s Best XI.
Others who made the team include Manchester United and Cameroon’s Andre Onana; Achraf Hakimi of Morocco; Kalidou Koulibaly; and Chancel Mbemba.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is set to miss between three and four weeks after injuring his right ankle in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Leganes in La Liga.
“Tests carried out this morning revealed a grade 1 injury to a ligament in the ankle,” Barcelona said in a statement on Monday.
The club estimated he would be out for up to four weeks, meaning he will miss Barcelona’s final game of the year against Atletico Madrid on Saturday.
READ ALSO: Sarr Stars As Crystal Palace Beat Brighton
Barcelona face fourth-tier Barbastro in the last 32 of the Copa del Rey on January 4 before travelling to Jeddah for the four-team Spanish Super Cup.
The 17-year-old Yamal hurt his ankle in a challenge in the first half against Leganes but despite the pain, continued to play until he was replaced in the 75th minute.
Barcelona remain top of La Liga despite winning just one of their last six games, a run which has allowed Atletico to draw level on points having played one fewer match.
Real Madrid are a point adrift of the leading duo and also have a game in hand on Barcelona.
It became apparent quite fast that Enzo Maresca moved to Chelsea with a strong plan, ready to turn the things upside down in the London club. The Argentinian started with a shaky pre-season and a loss to the reigning champions in the first round of Premier League, but then went on an undefeated streak.
His team shows a lot of potential, beautiful game and quality performances. Using reputable ratings will help you squeeze the most from the predictions on Chelsea’s future matches.
The first game against Manchester City
How Chelsea attacked: Maresca used the 3-2-5 formation, which did not contain false fullbacks. Moises Caicedo and Romeo Lavia operated in the defensive area. In the 67th minute, the Belgian player left, and Enzo Fernandez replaced him.
Features: Various roles played by wingers. Cole Palmer shifted to the centre, and Christopher Nkunku and Pedro Neto kept an open position. As a result, the fullbacks played different roles: Malo Gusto participated in the attacks, while Marc Cucurella remained deep.
How Chelsea defended: They combined 4-4-2 and 4-2-3-1 formations, sometimes using pinpoint pressure.
Characteristics: The role of Enzo Fernandez. Before moving to the defensive zone, the Argentine helped Chelsea to change from 4-2-3-1 to 4-4-2 and back, using pressure.
Chelsea’s Spanish defender #03 Marc Cucurella (C) celebrates scoring the team’s first goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge in London on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) /
The first game against Servette
How Chelsea attacked: Using 3-2-4-1 formation. Maresca used a false fullback for the first time in an official match when Renato Veiga shifted into the midfield zone. Mark Gui played a false nine. In the second half of the game, the role passed to Cole Palmer.
Features: Both wingers held high positions, unlike the game against City. The fullbacks also faced several problems: the right one, Axel Disasi, stayed low. The eights shifted into the depths and filled the semi-flanks.
How Chelsea defended: The 4-1-4-1 formation with pinpoint pressure.
Features: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played the eight in 4-1-4-1 formation, but could move down the field, changing the team to 4-2-3-1. Enzo Fernandez played a similar role in the game against City, but shifted not into a more accurate, but into a more aggressive structure.
Away game against Wolverhampton
Chelsea’s Senegalese striker #15 Nicolas Jackson celebrates scoring the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Brentford at Stamford Bridge in London on December 15, 2024. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP) /
How Chelsea attacked: Enzo Maresca used the inverted fullback again. Chelsea played 3-2-4-1 in attack.
Features: How eights played. The left one (Enzo Fernandez) went down more often to help with the ball’s progress, as it was in the game against Servette. Palmer was higher up. Thus, the final third was attacked together.
How Chelsea defended: Maresca used 4-1-4-1 again, as in the game against Servette. Visually, the pressure worked out more.
Features: Chelsea used more personalized defending. Even the center-defenders were running after their opponents from the first line. It seems that Servette’s defense was zonal.
The second leg against Servette
How Chelsea attacked: 3-2-4-1 again with an inverted fullback, wide roles for eights and wingers in high positions. Enzo Maresca continued to follow the same pattern as in the first match against Servette and away against Wolves.
Features: Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall played the left eight, which visually dropped more often to advance the ball, and Christopher Nkunku played the right eight, which attacked in the final third. Mark Giu stayed in the middle line, but not as often as in the first game.
How Chelsea defended: 4-1-4-1 again.
Features: Nkunku shifted the team to 4-4-2 formation, which was more aggressive. In the initial 4-1-4-1, Enzo Fernandez was the only defensive midfielder.
Draw with Crystal Palace
How Chelsea attacked: Classic 4-3-3, but a bit modified.
Features: At the end of August, it seemed that Maresca had come to a stable attack system: an inverted fullback – into the support zone, a conditional scheme – 3-2-4-1.
On September 1, Enzo refreshed his approach. In the derby against Palace, Moises Caicedo dropped into the first line, which Maresca had not done before. Malo Gusto turned into an eight at the same time, and Wesley Fofana went wide on the flank.
The inverted fullback remained but began to shift not to the defensive zone, but to a higher area.
How Chelsea defended: According to the 5-4-1 formation.
Features: Take a look at Noni Madueke. Without the ball, the Briton was in a low position. This is probably how Maresca reacted to the arrangement of Palace with three central defenders: in defense, someone had to meet wingback Tyrick Mitchell.
Concluding remarks
Enzo Maresca already showed great potential as a manager of a top club. The coach professionally administered a huge squad full of different personalities. After the beginning of the season, his team has gone through a lot of transformations, but it keeps delivering resultsto whoever plays on the field.
India’s chess star Gukesh Dommaraju returned to a hero’s welcome in his home city on Monday after becoming the youngest world champion aged only 18.
Hundreds of fans crowded the arrivals area of Chennai airport, cheering alongside banks of television cameras as Gukesh made his way out of the airport after victory in taking the World Chess Championship title.
“It means a lot to bring back the trophy to India,” Gukesh told reporters, with garlands of flowers draped around his neck, brandishing the glittering trophy in his hand.
“I can see the support and what it means to India, I am glad to be here,” he added, as celebratory petals thrown into the air smothered his hair.
Gukesh downed China’s Ding Liren in a dramatic endgame in Singapore last week — becoming a sudden superstar in a nation where sporting fans are usually only obsessed with cricket.
India’s Gukesh Dommaraju (C) holds his World Chess Championship trophy as he is greeted with a garland during a press conference in Chennai on December 16, 2024, for his win at the FIDE World Chess Championship Singapore 2024. – (Photo by R. Satish BABU / AFP)
The scenes in the south Indian city of Chennai were reminiscent — albeit on a smaller scale — of this year’s triumphant homecoming of the country’s cricket stars with the T20 World Cup trophy.
Young fans, mainly from Gukesh’s school, held placards and photos of their new hero — whose victory has given a boost to dreams of pursuing chess as a professional sport.
When he won in Singapore — after nearly three weeks and 14 games of intense battle against the 32-year-old Ding — Gukesh burst into tears.
Gukesh, who is usually reserved and more used to quiet and cerebral tournaments than wild celebrations, looked almost overwhelmed by the rock star welcome on Monday.
“You guys are amazing,” he told fans, before he was swiftly ushered into a car smothered in posters of him, alongside his father. “You gave me so much energy”.
– ‘Inspired millions’ –
India’s Gukesh Dommaraju (C) stands beside his parents as he shows his World Chess Championship trophy during a press conference in Chennai on December 16, 2024, after his win at the FIDE World Chess Championship Singapore 2024. – (Photo by R. Satish BABU / AFP)
Gukesh’s father, a doctor, has been by his son’s side on a rollercoaster ride that took off when he became India’s youngest grandmaster aged 12 years, seven months and 17 days — among the youngest in the history of the game.
In April, he became the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious Candidates Tournament, clinching his entry into the world championship.
Gukesh surpassed a record held by Russia’s Garry Kasparov, who won the title at age 22, after Ding, 32, faltered at the final hurdle of his title defence.
He is the second Indian to hold the title after five-time world champion Viswanathan Anand, who also hails from Chennai.
Gukesh will be honoured by the government of his home state Tamil Nadu, and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the capital New Delhi later this month.
The Nigeria Football Federation has backed Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who are in contention for the top men’s and women’s categories at today’s Confederation of African Football awards in Marrakesh, Morocco.
Lookman and Nnadozie spearhead Nigeria’s charge for honours at this year’s ceremony, as the country contests for seven awards.
The men’s category is locked in a tight race between Lookman and four other high-profile contenders.
The 27-year-old will vie for the men’s Player of The Year Award against Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
On Sunday, the Nigerian football governing body in a statement titled; ‘2024 CAF Awards: Lookman is the man, whichever way you look at it!’ went all out to root for the Atalanta Star and the Paris FC goalkeeper.
“All things being equal, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman should be crowned the African Player of The Year at Monday evening’s 2024 CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech,” NFF’s spokesperson, Ademola Olajire wrote.
“None of the four other final nominees comes close. Ivorian Simon Adingra, whose remarkable second-half performance saw the Elephants overcome Nigeria in the AFCON Final in Abidjan on February 11, cannot point to such a glittering record with English Premier League club, Brighton.”
READ ALSO: CAF Awards 2024: Ademola Leads Nigeria’s Date With Destiny
Nnadozie will also be chasing two honours as she is in the mix for the Women’s Player of The Year award along with Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda.
She is also a favourite for a second consecutive triumph in the Women’s Goalkeeper of The Year category.
“In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is a worthy contender for the Player of The Year (won for the sixth time last year by compatriot Asisat Oshoala), and the gong will cap a remarkable year for the soft-spoken safe hands who helped Nigeria re-appear at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years, was key to the Falcons’ qualification for next year’s AFCON and drew rave reviews all around with French club, Paris FC.”
Victories for the duo in the top categories will see Nigeria produce the winners of both awards for the third time – Nwankwo Kanu and Mercy Akide-Udoh in 1999, and Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala in 2023.
Lookman’s credentials for the men’s honour include his pivotal three goals and two assists which powered Nigeria to their eighth AFCON final in Ivory Coast in February, his hat-trick in a 3-0 win which handed Italian side, Atalanta the UEFA Europa League at the expense of hitherto-rampaging German side, Bayer Leverkusen in May.
This season, he has notched 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th AFCON finals scheduled for 2025 in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the Super Eagles and the Super Falcons are in the run for the National Team of the Year.
The Super Eagles were nominated alongside AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast, and South Africa while the Super Falcons were nominated with Morocco and the Banyana Banyana of South Africa.
Also, Falconets and Rivers Angels forward, Chiamaka Okwuchukwu was named in the final three for the Women’s Young Player of The Year award alongside FC Masar’s Habiba Sabry and AS FAR’s Doha El Madani.
