Nigeria’s captain, William Troost-Ekong is a conspicuous absentee as the CAF FIFPro BEST XI was unveiled at the CAF Awards 2024 holding in Morocco.

Two Nigerian players, Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman however made the list.

The chosen ones are: Andre Onana , Achraf Hakimi,  Kalidou Koulibaly, Chancel Mbemba , Mohamed Kudus , Sofyan Amrabat , Franck Kessie , Yves Bissouma Mohamed Salah , Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman

Nigeria’s Super Falcons are the Women’s Africa national team of the year. The Super Falcons edged out Morocco and South Africa.

The NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau received the award on behalf of the team and dedicated it to Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Except for the unexpected, a common occurrence in sports, especially football, Nigeria and Atalanta player, Ademola Lookman is set to be crowned as the African Footballer of the Year 2024.

All eyes are on him winning the award following stellar performances both on the African football fields and elsewhere.

He was a star performer in Nigeria’s march to the final match of the Africa Cup of Nations, where he not only scored goals but also rendered valuable assists to his team’s goals.

Goal scoring is the object of football. Goal scoring is habitual to Lookman as he has in the current season scored 11 and offered five assists in 18 appearances for the Serie A side, Atalanta.

Beyond the Africa Cup of Nations, he had been a terror in the qualifying edition of the next edition.

Elsewhere, the hat trick he scored in the final match of the Europa Cup remains unique. As his first name, Ademola rightly depicts in the Yoruba language, he is worthy of the crown along with prestige and wealth.

He nonetheless has credible challengers in Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Cote d’Ivoire Simon Adingra and South Africa’s Romwen Williams.

They are more of contestants rather than contenders.

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