Ademola Lookman still top favourite to succeed Osimhen as King of African football

Super Eagles and Atlanta star forward Ademola Lookman is again in very strong position to succeed compatriot Victor Osimhen as Africa’s No 1 football star after he was listed among 10 players for the top individual gong.

𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿 (𝗠𝗲𝗻) – 𝗡𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗲𝘀#CAFAwards2024 pic.twitter.com/1fhdmOay7a

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) October 24, 2024

The rumoured closest rival of Ademola Lookman, Ibrahim Diaz of Real Madrid and Morocco, did not make the Top 10.

Fellow Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi could now be the one to push the Atalanta forward for the continental accolade.

The PSG defender was beaten to the top prize last year by Osimhen.

His club again won the Ligue 1 club and he featured prominently for Morocco to reach the semifinal of the Paris 2024 Olympics.

However, his accomplishments in the year under review do not compare to what Ademola Lookman achieved.

His exploits in the final of the UEFA Europa League final in May are still being talked about to this day as the Super Eagles star was unplayable on the night.

He fired a historic hat-trick which won Atalanta their first-ever major trophy.

And in the year an AFCON was played, ‘Mola’ also stood up to be counted as he scored three goals and provided an assist for the Super Eagles to go all the way to championship game against the host country Cote d’Ivoire.

His decision to change international allegiance from England has been more than justified.

The Atalanta Player of the Year for the second straight season is also the only African nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Previous winners of the CAF Player of the Year Award like Osimhen, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu were also listed for the prestigious award on their way to being crowned the best player in Africa.

This year’s awards ceremony will be staged on December 16 again in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.