Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Ibrahim Gusau has lauded Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman for his impressive 14th-place finish in the 2024 Ballon d’Or rankings, highlighting him as the sole African representative on the prestigious 30-man shortlist.
Lookman’s stellar performances at both international and club levels have earned him global acclaim this year.
For Nigeria, his three critical goals helped secure a second-place finish at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast.
At the club level, Lookman played a pivotal role in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League victory, netting all three goals in their final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Gusau expressed optimism about Lookman’s future prospects in the Ballon d’Or rankings, stating,
“The NFF commends Ademola Lookman for his feat, and we believe he has the potential to finish much higher next year,” said Gusau.
“He was already a winner before Monday night’s gala, being the only African on the 30-man shortlist and the second-highest-rated Italian Serie A player in the race. We encourage him to continue doing his best for club and country; the sky will be the limit for him.”
Lookman is also a strong contender for the 2024 African Player of the Year award. If successful, he would become the first Nigerian to follow a compatriot, Victor Osimhen, for the honor since Victor Ikpeba succeeded Nwankwo Kanu in 1997—a tradition dating back to 1994, when Emmanuel Amuneke took over from Rashidi Yekini.