Nigeria’s ex-international Taribo West | File Image
West tells Lookman to work harder
By Valentine Amanze
Nigeria’s former international footballer, Pastor Taribo West, has praised Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman for being crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh, Morocco on Monday December 16, 2024.
West, the 1996 Olympics gold medalist, who spoke in Lagos-based Brilla FM radio on Tuesday morning, also advised Lookman to work harder to retain the crown.
West said that the presence of the top management of the Paris Saint-Germain Football Club (PSG) at the event was not only to support their Moroccan defender, Achraf Hakimi, but to identify with Lookman, whom he described as their target for the next football season.
He was optimistic that, with the African crown, bigger clubs would woo Lookman to join them, including PSG.
Ademola Lookman
Lookman, the Atalanta forward saw off competition from Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi of Morocco and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
Also read: Taribo West hails Abia governor over appointment of Kanu as Enyimba’s chairman
Lookman is the second consecutive Nigerian to claim the award after Victor Osimhen in 2023.
Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda made history as the first Zambian to win the women’s prize, finishing ahead of Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie. Nnadozie also retained African best goalkeeper award.
The winners are voted for by a panel of experts which includes members of Caf’s Technical Committee plus African media professionals, players and coaches.
Lookman’s standout year
Lookman, 27, was hot favourite to pick up the award for the first time in his career after an impressive 2023-24 season.
He played a key role in helping his Italian club win the first European trophy in their history with a memorable hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen – making him the sixth player to score a treble in a European club final and the first since 1975.
Recall that Lookman was named in the team of the tournament at the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, scoring three goals as the Super Eagles finished as runners-up to the hosts in February.
The former Everton, Fulham and Leicester City player was also the only African on this year’s men’s Ballon d’Or shortlist, finishing 14th.
Lookman has again proved instrumental for Atalanta this season, scoring eight goals in Serie A to help his team go top of the table. Indeed, Lookman is a great footballer.
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