Tag: Ademola Lookman

All things being equal, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman should be crowned the African Player of the Year at Monday evening’s 2024 CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrés in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

His three goals and two assists were pivotal to Nigeria reaching their eighth Africa Cup of Nations Final in Cote d’Ivoire in February, and his hat-trick in a 3-0 win handed Italian side, Atalanta FC the UEFA Europa Cup at the expense of hitherto-rampaging German side, Bayer Leverkusen in May.

This season, he has notched 11 goals and five assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for Atalanta (including a goal against record winners Real Madrid FC in the UEFA Champions League), and scored two goals as Nigeria qualified for the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals, with two other goals controversially chalked off.

None of the four other final nominees comes close. Ivorian Simon Adingra, whose remarkable second-half performance saw the Elephants overcome Nigeria in the AFCON Final in Abidjan on 11 February, cannot point to such a glittering record with English Premier League club, Brighton.

Incidentally, Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire appear to always run neck-and-neck in continental titles. Both countries have three AFCON titles each, and have scooped the Men’s Player of the Year title six times since the awards were taken over by CAF in 1992. Cameroon lead with 11 titles (including Samuel Eto’o’s quadruple) dating back to 1970 when France Football first organized the awards, while Ghana have five (including Abedi Pele’s treble).

Victory for Nigeria on Monday evening will see the country become stand-alone number two, with previous winners being Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Victor Osimhen (2023). It will also mean Lookman taking over from fellow Nigeria striker Osimhen. Cote d’Ivoire’s six have been won by Yaya Toure (quadruple) and Didier Drogba (double).

Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, who notched a number of magnificent goals in the 2025 AFCON qualifying campaign, failed to steer Guinea to the AFCON finals, and has not pulled up too many trees with Borussia Dortmund in Germany this season. South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams has better chances in the goalkeeper of the year category, which he contests with Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Ivorian Yahia Fofana. Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi can hardly stake a claim.

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In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is a worthy contender for the Player of the Year (won for the sixth time last year by compatriot Asisat Oshoala), and the gong will cap a remarkable year for the soft-spoken safe hands who helped Nigeria re-appear at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years, was key to the Falcons’ qualification for next year’s AFCON and drew rave reviews all around with French club, Paris FC. She is in competition with Moroccan Sanâa Mssoudy and Zambian Barbra Banda.

Nnadozie is also in contention to retain her Goalkeeper of the Year award, with Andile Dlamini (South Africa) and Khadija Er-Rmichi as contenders.

There is also Nigerian interest in Women’s Young Player of the Year category, with former junior international Chiamaka Okwuchukwu contending with Egyptian Habiba Sabry and Morocco’s Doha El Madani. Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala won the first-ever title in this category, back in 2021.  

Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and South Africa (in the same order they finished on the podium at the AFCON) are in the race for the Men’s National Team of the Year, and Morocco, South Africa and Nigeria (who are the gong-holders and have finished the year as Africa’s number one on the FIFA ranking) battle for the women’s gong. Nigeria’s Edo Queens are in the shortlist for Women’s Club of the Year, alongside TP Mazembe of DR Congo and South AS FAR of Morocco.

Will we see Lookman standing together with Nnadozie as winners of the Player of the Year awards in both categories (as we saw Nwankwo Kanu and Mercy Akide-Udoh in 1999, and Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala in 2023)?

Award Categories (Nigeria interest)

Men’s Player of the Year (Ademola Lookman)

Women’s Player of the Year (Chiamaka Nnadozie)

Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year (Chiamaka Nnadozie)

Women’s Young Player of the Year (Chiamaka Okwuchukwu)

Men’s National Team of the Year (Super Eagles)

Women’s National Team of the Year (Super Falcons)

Women’s Club of the Year (Edo Queens)

Ademola Lookman will Monday night in Morocco be crowned as the next CAF Player of the Year, according to Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong.

The Atalanta star forward is one of five final nominees for the prestigious continental gong, which was last year won by another Nigeria star, Victor Osimhen.

Ekong said the 27-year-old has been on fire for both club and country and he’s Africa’s best for now.

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“He’s on fire now, and a lot of promise is coming through. This season he’s been something else, and at AFCON he was amazing,” he told talksport

“I would say he’s arguably our best player and arguably the best player in Africa right now.

“On December 16 there will be the [African Player of the Year] ceremony, and I’m sure he’s going to win it,

“Everybody saw the hat-trick in the Europa League final, and then there were a lot of rumours about big clubs, which I know to be true, but Atalanta weren’t ready for him to go,” he said.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was yet again a shock exclusion as winners of the Gran Galà del Calcio 2024, the Italian version of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA) Awards were reeled out late on Monday night.

The event was held in Milan and all the victors were chosen by members of the Italian Players’ Association (AIC).

The 27-year-old Nigeria’s Atalanta striker was on the shortlist   and was expected to be considered following some eye-catching performances in thee 2023/ 2024 season in the Serie A plus his stunning hat trick that helped Atalanta to their first Europa League title at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen.

But it was Inter who won the Serie A title at a canter last season, that dominated the Calcio awards, including Simone Inzaghi as Coach of the Year and Inter as Club of the Year.

The Calcio Top XI of the Year included two players who have since left Serie A, namely Arsenal defender Calafiore and Manchester United striker Zirkzee, who both played for Bologna last season.

Lautaro Martinez was named Player of the Year after his Capocannoniere title with 24 goals. He succeeds former Napoli striker and Nigeria international, Victor Osimhen who is now on loan with Galatasaray.

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Marcus Thuram also received the award for Goal of the Year after his strike in September 2023 during Inter’s 5-1 Derby della Madonnina victory over Milan, though this was the only award voted for by the public.

Marking 30 years since Milan crushed Barcelona 4-0 in the Champions League Final, a special Legend award went to Billy Costacurta, Demetrio Albertini, Roberto Donadoni and Mauro Tassotti.

ALL THE WINNERS

Player of the Year: Lautaro Martinez (Inter)

Coach of the Year: Simone Inzaghi (Inter)

Club of the Year: Inter

Referee of the Year: Daniele Orsato

Serie B Young Player of the Year: Francesco Pio Esposito (Spezia).’

Top XI of the Year:  Sommer (Inter); Bellanova (Torino/Atalanta), Bastoni (Inter), Calafiori (Bologna/Arsenal), Dimarco (Inter); Barella (Inter), Calhanoglu (Inter), Koopmeiners (Atalanta/Juventus); Zirkzee (Bologna/Manchester United), Lautaro Martinez (Inter), M Thuram (Inter).

Atalanta head coach, Gian Piero Gasperini, has credited Super Eagles forward, Ademola Olajade Lookman, for the club’s rise in the past two years, Soccernet.ng reports.

The 27-year-old joined La Dea from RB Leipzig in 2022, after struggling to stamp his foot anywhere really. However, the partnership of both parties has forged success for all involved.

Since Lookman joined the Bergamo-based side, they’ve reached the Coppa Italia final, won the UEFA Europa League, and played the UEFA Super Cup against Real Madrid. Currently, they’re a point behind Serie A league leaders, Inter Milan.

Speaking to reporters ahead of Atalanta’s clash against Roma on Monday, Gasperini praised Lookman’s impact both on and off the pitch.

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“We are in a good period of form in Italy and Europe. I’m happy with the performances and results we are getting. Winning the Europa League last season helped us grow in confidence and self-belief.

Many new players have arrived and are improving, but it was last season’s success, driven by players like Lookman, that set the tone,” the Italian gaffer said in quotes revealed by Brila.

Atalanta have continued their great form from last season into this campaign, and are primed to steal all three points at the Estadio Olimpico on Monday. Lookman’s side are currently undefeated in their last twelve league games, drawing two and winning ten.

Gasperini’s side have also scored the most goals in the league this season, and Lookman has contributed to eleven of those.

Rave-of-the-moment, Ademola Lookman, is yet again  in the mix  for his recent  rich vein of form  with Atalanta  after the Lega Serie  announced the six candidates for November’s Player of the Month.

The 27-year-old  Nigeria International has been among the goals for Atalanta  in the month under review  after netting thrice including a brace  in that famous 3-0  win  against  top of the table side, Napoli.

In the on-going campaign, Lookman has registered  an impressive nine goals and five assists in 15 appearances across all competitions with Atalanta.

In a vote to be decided by fans, Lookman will  compete  for the coveted  Serie A November’s Player of the Month along with five others  including  Alessandro Buongiorno (Napoli), Federico Dimarco (Inter), Moise Kean (Fiorentina), Marcus Thuram (Juventus) and Mattia Zaccagni (Lazio).

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 “The six players has been selected taking into account the advanced analysis of Stats Perform, created from the tracking data recorded with the Hawk-Eye system,” Lega Serie A explained. “The rating system, patented in 2010 with K-Sport and scientifically validated, considers not only statistical data and technical events, but also positional data. This makes it possible to analyse crucial aspects such as movement without the ball and thus optimal movements, game choices, and the contribution to the technical and physical efficiency of the team, which allow for an objective and qualitative evaluation of the performance.

 “For the final calculation were considered the matchdays from 11 to 13 of Serie A 2024/2025.”

Marcus Thuram, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Mateo Retegui were named Serie A Player of the Month for August, September, and October, respectively.

• Oliseh hails Nigerian ace  

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman is now regarded as the best marksman for Atalanta  in the on-going  Serie A campaign after  the Nigeria International  striker netted his seventh  league goal  in the 3-1  win over Parma.

 On Saturday, Atalanta registered a seventh consecutive Serie A victory with Mateo Retegui, Ederson and  Lookman goals. In a match  the 27-year-old was ruled off-side twice in the 8^th and 72^nd  minutes, Lookman  finally broke his duck in the 75^th minute.

In analysing the result,  Atalanta  noted that Lookman  distinguished  himself so well  against  Parma as he  reached his own  ‘seventh heaven’  in the on-going Serie A campaign.

“By netting the goal that put the Parma game to sleep, not only has Ademola Lookman hit the mark for the 7^th  time in the current Serie A , but he also recorded Atalanta’s 34^t net since the beginning of the season – thus enshrining a new Club’s best-ever result,”  the club noted on its  website.

Aside,  it was equally noted  that  Lookman  is the club’s  best  forward  against Parma  based  on the individual figures provided by the Serie A’s Official Match Report.

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The  2024 Ballon d’Or 14^th Best Player was  also credited  as ‘the leading figure in terms of overall shots (5), key passes (4), shots on target (2) and goal chances created (4).

 Lookman  has been in a rich vein of form  since his  stunning hat-trick helped  Atalanta to win the Europa League Trophy  following the 3-0 demolition of Bayer Leverkusen last May.

In the current season, Lookman has scored nine goals  for Atalanta  including  seven in the Serie A  and two in the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile,  former  Super Eagles  captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh,  believes  Lookman  is already  a class act with his sublime finishes in front of the goal post in recent times.

In an interview  aired on  News Central TV at the weekend , Oliseh  posited: “Ademola Lookman is a great player. Why I find Lookman to be a great player is because I’m looking at the qualities, the characteristics that are needed to play the position Lookman plays and how he executes them.

“He doesn’t execute them at five out of ten, he doesn’t execute them at six out of ten, he executes most

Oliseh  added: “The man has got pace, he’s got tenacity, he’s unpredictable, he knows how to give width when his team is in possession, he’s always looking for penetration to go forward. His ball mastery is cool, he is nimble-footed, he sells dummies and his finishing.

 “I am calling him great because he played at the Europa League final, he did not only just play, he was decisive in winning the Europa League final. That is not what a good player does, that’s what a great player does.”

Ademola Lookman has been named in the Atalanta squad for their Serie A matchday 13 clash with Parma at Ennio Tardini Stadium on Saturday.

The in-form winger missed the Super Eagles 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final qualification fixture with Rwanda due to lack of fitness.

The 2013 AFCON champions interim coach Austin Eguavoen had revealed during his pre-match conference ahead of the clash with Rwanda that Lookman had to be released from the clamp as he was not fully fit.

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The 27-year-old is back to full fitness, thus his presence in the Atalanta squad for today’s clash.

The 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League champions head into the weekend fixture with just one point adrift of table-toppers Napoli, and Lookman has played no small role in their blistering start to the season.

The Nigeria international has six goals and four assists in nine games in the Italian top-flight and Gian Piero Gasperini will be hoping he can continue with his brilliant form throughout the campaign.