The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially revealed the top five nominees in each of the Men’s categories for the 2024 CAF Awards on Monday.
Among the nominees is Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, who earned a spot in the top five, while his national team captain, William Troost-Ekong, did not make it past the initial nine-man list.
The 2024 CAF Awards ceremony is scheduled to take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16, 2024.
The five nominees for the Player of the Year award are: Simon Adingra (Côte d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns).
Other categories announced include Goalkeeper of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Club of the Year, and National Team of the Year.
The CAF Awards celebrate African football excellence, recognizing outstanding performances in both club and international competitions. The prestigious titles of CAF African Player of the Year are awarded in both the men’s and women’s categories.
A total of seven categories have been confirmed for the Men’s Awards, with the top five nominees selected for each. The awards cover performances from January to October 2024.
Lookman is seen as a strong contender for the Player of the Year award after his stellar performances last season and this season. He scored three goals as Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire and made history with a hat-trick in the final of the 2024 UEFA Europa League, leading Atalanta to victory over Bayer Leverkusen.