As the excitement for the 2024 CAF Africa Player of the Year Award grows, Cameroonian international Flavien Enzo Boyomo has expressed strong confidence in Ademola Lookman, Nigerian forwar as the leading contender for the prestigious accolade.
Lookman, who represents Atalanta in the Italian Serie A, has gained widespread admiration following his extraordinary performances last season.
The Nigerian forward made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final, leading his team to a memorable victory against Bayer Leverkusen. His stellar achievements have drawn support from teammates, stakeholders, and fans, solidifying his position on CAF’s final shortlist for the award.
Among those endorsing Lookman is Boyomo, who firmly believes the forward deserves to claim the honor at the CAF Awards scheduled for December 16, 2024. Lookman faces tough competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Algeria’s Amine Gouiri, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, all of whom have delivered remarkable performances. Nevertheless, Lookman’s record-breaking exploits and significant contributions to both his club and country make him a standout favorite.
Boyomo, an Osasuna centre-back, voiced his confidence in Lookman’s chances, stating, “I believe Lookman will win the African Ballon d’Or. He won the Europa League, and he has the best chance of claiming the trophy this year,” as reported by Actu Cameroon.
Lookman’s nomination follows an exceptional season in which he emerged as Europe’s most impactful attacking player during the closing months of the 2023/24 campaign. From April onward, he recorded 14 goal contributions, including eight goals and six assists, outperforming every other player across Europe’s top five leagues.
His crowning achievement came during the UEFA Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, where he delivered a historic hat-trick to cap a season tally of 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. The Nigerian international has maintained his impressive form this season, already amassing nine goals and five assists in just 16 appearances for Atalanta.
In addition to his remarkable Europa League exploits, Lookman’s 14th-place finish at the Ballon d’Or ceremony in October—where he was the sole African player nominated—further solidifies his status as the overwhelming favorite for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award.
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