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The Super Eagles had two players among the nominees, but Victor Boniface was also left out of the final nominees
Super Eagles’ interim head coach, Augustine Eguavoen, has expressed his excitement following the announcement of the CAF African Player of the Year shortlist, which features two Nigerian stars, Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong.
The shortlist comes as Nigeria aims for back-to-back wins, after Victor Osimhen’s historic victory last year.
Lookman leads the pack for Nigeria
Both Lookman and Troost-Ekong have delivered remarkable performances over the past year, making them strong contenders for the prestigious award.
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Lookman has been sensational, both for his club Atalanta and the Nigerian national team. The winger not only helped Nigeria reach the final of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast but also led Atalanta to their first-ever Europa League title, scoring a historic hat-trick in the final.
Troost-Ekong was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2023 AFCON after an immense performance for the Super Eagles, making him a top candidate for Africa’s biggest prize.
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Lookman’s standout year also earned him a Ballon d’Or nomination, cementing his status as the front-runner for the CAF award. His remarkable achievements have rekindled Nigerian hopes for another win on the African stage.
Eguavoen praises Super Eagles nominees
Following the announcement, current Super Eagles manager Eguavoen released a brief statement to honour the Nigerian stars who made the 10-man shortlist.
In a heartfelt post on X, coach Eguavoen congratulated the Nigerian duo, Lookman and Troost-Ekong, writing, “Congratulations to our Super Super Super Eagles duo - Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong on their nomination for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
"A brilliant year for Nigerian Football, let’s crown it all with another win in Morocco.”
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Eguavoen, who is set to be the interim manager for a while, will likely lead the Super Eagles when they play in the AFCON 2025 qualifiers against the Benin Republic and Rwanda in November. .
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