Nigeria international striker, Ademola Lookman , said that it was an incredible feeling to be recognised as the best player in Africa after being named last night as the recipient of the prestigious 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
The event held at the imposing Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech, saw the 27-year-old Atalanta forward fend off stiff challenge from the quartet of Moroccan Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, Ivorian Simon Adingra, and Ronwen Williams from South Africa.
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“Ekale (Good evening); Nigeria, Mo nki gbogbo yin (Nigerians, I’m greeting all of you) , E se ; Mo dupe (thank you; I’m grateful),” the 27-year-old former England youth international, replenishing in his all-green and black embroidered agbada (voluminous attire), began in his native Yoruba language, after being handed the continent’s highest individual prize by CAF President Patrice Motsepe and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
He continued: “ First, I want to thank the Almighty God for all that he has been doing in my life . I want to thank the President, my teammates at both club and country ; I want to thank them for their support and the love that they have given me.
“ Today is a blessing to me , my family , my nation . To be recognised as the best player in Africa is something incredible and I’m extremely proud of this.
“”Four years ago, my career felt down (to play for Nigeria) and fast forward four years after, I’m the best player in Africa.
“I want to say to all the young children and people watching this , don’t let your failures weigh you down to break your wings but for a fact, turn your pains to your power and you begin to fly ,” he added.