Ahead of the CAF awards ceremony scheduled for today in Marrakesh, Morocco, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed strong support for Nigerian stars Ademola Lookman and Chiamaka Nnadozie, who are finalists for the CAF Player of the Year awards in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Lookman and Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie are leading Nigeria’s quest for recognition at this year’s awards, with the country in contention for a total of seven categories.
The men’s Player of the Year category features a competitive lineup, with Lookman competing against Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams.
In a statement, the NFF described Lookman as a standout contender, citing his impressive performances for both Nigeria and his club, Atalanta. His achievements include pivotal contributions in Nigeria’s journey to the AFCON final in February, a hat-trick that secured Atalanta the UEFA Europa League title, and 11 goals with five assists in 18 appearances this season. His efforts have established him as one of Africa’s top football talents.
Chiamaka Nnadozie is also a strong contender in the women’s Player of the Year category, competing against Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda. The Paris FC goalkeeper, known for her calm and reliable performances, is also the favorite to retain her title as Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year. Nnadozie has had a remarkable year, playing a key role in Nigeria’s qualification for the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years and helping the Super Falcons qualify for the 2024 Women’s AFCON.
Victories for Lookman and Nnadozie in their respective categories would mark the third time Nigeria has secured both Player of the Year awards, following previous wins in 1999 (Nwankwo Kanu and Mercy Akide-Udoh) and 2023 (Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala).
Additionally, the Super Eagles and Super Falcons have been nominated for the National Team of the Year awards. The Super Eagles will contend with AFCON winners Ivory Coast and South Africa, while the Super Falcons face competition from Morocco and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.
In the Women’s Young Player of the Year category, Falconets and Rivers Angels forward Chiamaka Okwuchukwu is a finalist alongside FC Masar’s Habiba Sabry and Asfar’s Doha El Madani. Okwuchukwu showcased her talent during the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, where she contributed two goals and an assist, leading Nigeria to the round of 16.
Edo Queens, champions of the Nigeria Women Football League, have also been shortlisted for the Women’s Club of the Year award. They will compete against CAF Women’s Champions League winners TP Mazembe and Asfar.
These nominations highlight Nigeria’s strong presence in African football and its continued contribution to the sport’s growth on the continent.
