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We carefully selected and reviewed nine performances that defined Ademola Lookman's CAF Men's Player of the Year triumph.
Super Eagles ace Ademola Lookman has been crowned the African Men's Best Footballer of the Year for his remarkable 2024.
The 27-year-old has had an inspired year that began with leading the Super Eagles to a silver medal finish at the AFCON. He carried that form to Bergamo and helped Atalanta to their first European trophy, a top-four finish, and a Coppa Italia silver medal.
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19:13 - 16.12.2024
Nigeria's Ademola Lookman beats Hakimi, others to claim CAF African Player of the Year award
The Atalanta and Super Eagles star forward crowned a perfect 2024 with the CAF African Player of the Year award
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21:32 - 16.12.2024
'Ese modupe!' — Ademola Lookman delivers Yoruba statement as he receives African Best Award
Ademola Lookman spoke Yoruba during his CAF Awards speech.
While consistency is king in football, and Lookman was indeed consistent, moments of ultra-human interventions in the biggest matches hold the key swaying factor in what is largely a popularity contest. The Nigerian, like many greats before him, never shied away when the lights were brightest.
Lookman determined the outcome of many key matches during the period in review (January to October 2024), and we have picked out nine of them.
Lookman's clutch moments
Lookman vs Cameroon (AFCON RO16)
Prior to the tournament, Lookman's performances for the Super Eagles had been under scrutiny; however, at the AFCON, he confirmed to all and sundry that he was one of Nigeria's most important players for the present and future.
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The game that conveyed that message the strongest was the Round of 16 clash against Cameroon in which the CAF POTY scored twice to help Jose Peseiro’s side beat bitter rivals to advance.
Lookman vs Angola (AFCON Q/Final)
Angola were flying and hence a potential banana skin, but Nigeria had Lookman, who carried on from where he stopped against the indomitable Lions, scoring the solitary goal against the Palancas Negras to help the Super Eagles advance as well as settle a grudge match brewing since the 2006 World Cup qualifiers.
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Lookman vs Sporting (Europa League Last 16)
Lookman made the Europa League Team of the Tournament last season but he, rather incredibly, had not scored until the Round of 16, but it was quite worth the wait.
After a disappointing 1-1 draw in Portugal, La Dea were staring down the barrel in the second-leg when Pedro Goncalves gave the visitors the lead.
Lookman, however, stepped up with a timely equaliser, the momentum of which propelled them to a winner through Gianluca Scamacca’s strike.
Lookman vs Marseille (Europa League semi-final)
As was the case against Sporting, Gian Piero Gasperini's side came into the second leg of the match against Les Phoceens with all to play for as the first leg ended 1-1.
He scored the opening goal, which was effectively the match-winner, and assisted Matteo Rugeri to add some cushion to the scoreline before El Bilal Toure scored to confirm a 3-0 result.
Lookman vs Bayer Leverkusen (Europa League final)
Lookman's earlier heroics pale in comparison to the feats he achieved in this match, or any in his career for that matter.
It is safe to say this was the match that ensured he would win the CAF Men's Player of the Year Award, and this entire article could objectively have been totally about this game.
The Nigerian scored a hat-trick in the Europa League final, ending Die Werkself's unbeaten run (their only defeat that season) and handing Atalanta her first-ever European silverware.
Lookman vs Fiorentina (Coppa Italia semi-final)
Atalanta could have been double winners last season as they reached the Coppa Italia final—which they eventually lost to Juventus in the final—thanks to Lookman's heroics.
The former Everton forward scored and assisted in clutch fashion to help La Dea shoot past an in-form Fiorentina at the time.
Lookman vs Benin Republic (AFCON qualifiers)
Nigeria have qualified for the 2025 AFCON tournament, and they did it winning only two games on the pitch, one of which was against Benin Republic and Lookman scored two goals in the 3-0 triumph.
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Lookman vs Fiorentina (Serie A)
Atalanta are the current leaders of Serie A, thanks in part to Lookman's 12 goal contributions in 13 games.
The victory against Fiorentina in September was one of the standout performances, as he scored and assisted to help Gasperini's side to a marginal 3-2 victory.
Lookman vs Hellas Verona (Serie A)
Empirically, his most impressive performance this season has to be the 6-1 thumping of Hellas Verona. Lookman was involved in nearly all the goals with four contributions split evenly between assister and scorer.
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