Côte d’Ivoire head coach Emerse Faé has surprisingly thrown his support behind Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, ahead of his compatriot Simon Adingra.
The prestigious award ceremony will take place tonight at the Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco, where Africa’s finest footballers will be honoured for their achievements from January till October 2024.
Despite Adingra’s impressive contributions at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and for Brighton & Hove Albion, Faé believes Lookman’s performances for both club and country give him the edge over the other nominees.
“I would love to see Simon Adingra win it because he’s one of my players,” Faé said in an interview with OJB Sports. “But I must admit Ademola Lookman deserves it more. His performances at the AFCON, where he scored crucial goals, and his hat-trick in the Europa League final for Atalanta were outstanding.”
Lookman, alongside Adingra, faces competition from Achraf Hakimi, Serhou Guirassy, and Ronwen Williams for the top prize.
The Nigerian winger played a key role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph and was instrumental in Nigeria’s run to the AFCON final, scoring important goals throughout the tournament.
Last year’s winner, Victor Osimhen, became the first Nigerian to claim the honour since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999, and Lookman now aims to make it back-to-back wins for the Super Eagles on the continental stage.
Shina Oludare is a distinguished sports journalist and managing editor, renowned for his comprehensive coverage of African football. His dedication to elevating African sports on the global stage has earned him widespread respect, along with numerous accolades for his contributions. A graduate of the LaLiga Business School in Madrid, Oludare’s passion for sports and his influential work in African football journalism have established him as a leading figure in the industry.
