The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the top five nominees for the 2024 Africa Player of the Year Award, with Nigeria’s Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, making the prestigious list.
However, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, did not make it to the final shortlist despite being considered earlier in the nomination process.
Joining Lookman in the running for the coveted award are Cote d’Ivoire’s Simon Adingra, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, last year’s runner-up and Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
The ceremony, designed to celebrate African football excellence, will highlight remarkable performances across club and national competitions. Categories include the Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year, alongside Coach of the Year, Goalkeeper of the Year, Young Player of the Year, and Team and Club of the Year.
Speaking on the nominations, CAF officials emphasized the significance of honoring exceptional talent. “This year’s finalists have demonstrated outstanding skills and sportsmanship, reflecting the best of African football,” the organization stated.
Full List of Player of the Year Finalists:
Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion)
Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Goalkeeper of the Year Finalists:
Andre Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United)
Yahia Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire / Angers SCO)
Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)
Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria / Chippa United)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Interclub Player of the Year Finalists:
Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso / RS Berkane)
Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ (Egypt / Zamalek)
Hussein El Shahat (Egypt / Al Ahly)
Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)
Young Player of the Year Finalists:
Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire / Salzburg)
Oumar Diakite (Cote d’Ivoire / Reims)
Yankuba Minteh (Gambia / Brighton & Hove Albion)
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco / AS Monaco)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)
Coach of the Year Finalists:
Pedro Goncalves (Angola)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)
Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo)
Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
Hugo Broos (South Africa)
Club of the Year Finalists:
Al Ahly (Egypt)
Zamalek (Egypt)
RS Berkane (Morocco)
Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)
Espérance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)
National Team of the Year Finalists:
Cote d’Ivoire
DR Congo
Nigeria
South Africa
Sudan
This year’s event will not only crown the best players in Africa but also honor teams and individuals who have elevated the sport’s profile on the continent. Fans and stakeholders eagerly await the award ceremony to celebrate the continent’s footballing excellence.
