Erstwhile Super Eagles trainer, German coach Gernot Rohr. as well as former Nigeria International trio of Jonathan Akpoborie, Garba Lawal and Patrick Pascal believe that Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman should walkaway tonight with the African Player of the Year(APOTY) prize.
The 27-year-old Super Eagles forward will tonight at the Palais des Congrés in Marrakech, Morocco, be up against four other contenders including Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy; Ivorian Simon Adingra, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and South Africa’s goalkeeper Ronwen Williams for the prestigious prize.
“Lookman is the big favourite and he deserves to win,” Rohr who last month qualified Benin Republic for 2025 AFCON, told NationSport. “After some difficult seasons in England and Germany, he (Lookman) is now the number one for me in Africa.”
In the year under review, Lookman stole the show with a stunning hat trick that delivered the Europa League title for Atalanta and was also among the goals as the Super Eagles romped into the 2023 AFCON final where they lost oddly to hosts, Cote d’Ivoire.
“ Yes, Lookman has been with the decisive passes and goals and it’s also good for Nigeria,” added Rohr who incidentally first capped the former Everton striker for Super Eagles.
Underlining Lookman’s burgeoning status in Nigerian and African football, Akpoborie said it would be a big shock if the ‘most skilful player’ on the continent is not crowned the best in Marrakech.
“I am really a big fan of Lookman,” the former Hansa Rostock and VfB Stuttgart striker, told Nation Sport. “At the moment, he is the most skilful player we have in Africa, and he uses that skill positively for his team.
“I really hope we can have a coach that will play a formation that will really bring out his game for us.
“ He has to win the award. I will be shocked if he does not win it.”
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Speaking in the same vein, Lawal, four AFCON veterans between 2000 and 2006, said he would be disappointment should Lookman failed to win the APOTY.
“Yes, I will be shocked if he (Lookman) does not win,” Lawal, the 1996 Olympic Soccer Gold Medallist, told NationSports.
“The wonder boy was fantastic in the Europa Cup final scoring three goals and playing well this season week-in-week-out.
“For sure, if he doesn’t win it, I will be very disappointed,” he added.
Similarly, current Super Eagles Coordinator, Pascal , said the soccer world will be shocked should Lookman missed the big individual prize tonight.
It will be shocked to the world’s football family if Lookman didn’t win the CAF’s Men’s Player of the Year,” Pascal who doubles as the Bauchi FA Chairman, said.
“Someone that came 14th in the world in the Ballon d’Or? I believe, hundred per cent ‘Mola’ (Ademola) will win the award.”