Lookman, Nnadozie target final nominations for CAF Awards

Super Eagles star, Ademola Lookman, and Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, will find out if they are among the final three nominees for their various categories of the African Footballer of the Year awards today.

While Lookman is one of the top candidates for the men’s footballer of the year diadem, Nnadozie is aiming to become the second Nigerian to win the women’s version in two years after Asisat Oshoala, who took the crown last year.

The award ceremony, which will hold on December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco, will celebrate the finest African footballers, coaches, and administrators over the past year, covering performances from January to October 2024.

Lookman is contending with Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams. Only three of the lot will make the final shortlist for the awards.

In the women’s category, Nnadozie is contending with Tabitha Chawinga (Malawi/Olympique Lyonnais), Temwa Chawinga (Malawi/ Kansas City Current), Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco/AS FAR) and Barbra Banda (Zambia/Orlando Pride). Again, only three of them will make the final shortlist for Monday’s ceremony.

According to CAF, Africa’s leading football experts have voted for their star names across the range of categories.

From an original list of 30 top performers in the Men’s Player of the Year category, the number has been cut to five, with a final three to be revealed today ahead of the Awards ceremony.

Some of the greatest names in African football history have walked away with the prize, including record four-time winners Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon) and Yaya Toure (Cote d’Ivoire), and George Weah (Liberia) and Abedi Pele (Ghana), who have three wins each.

In the Women’s category, Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala leads the way with six wins, two more than compatriot Perpetua Nkwocha.

The best clubs and national teams will also be honoured, and fans have voted for their top pick from several exceptional goals with an award for the most spectacular strike in 2024.

The ceremony will be attended by football stakeholders from across the continent and beyond, as well as legendary players and some of Africa’s finest current stars.