On 16 December in Morocco there will be a gala evening for the awarding of the African Ballon d’Or 2024. The name of the Nigeria and Atalanta striker is among the finalists.
Three goals in the Europa League final sank the battleship Leverkusen and sculpted a 2024 worth remembering for Ademola Lookman. And it could become exceptional if the prize also arrives African Ballon d’Or (the gala evening will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16th). The Nigerian striker of Atalanta (protagonist of an amazing start to the season in Serie A and the Champions League) is among the finalists for the awarding of the trophy which rewards the best footballer of the year on the continent.
The African Football Confederation has officially revealed the names of the candidates: in addition to the ‘goddess’ tip, there is also the Moroccan Ashraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain), the Ivorian Simon Adingra (Brighton), the Guinean Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund) hey sudafricani Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns). What are Lookman’s chances of winning? Enough, at least judging by the numbers and weight of his goals, as well as the constant performance under the expert direction of Gasperini.
How much Lookman is worth today, a mind-boggling price after almost 3 years at Atalanta
He arrived in Bergamo in the summer of 2022, taken from Leipzig for a laughable sum compared to the current value: the club paid just under 10 million euros for a striker who, according to Transfermarkt estimates, is worth 40 million euros while the market real’ pushes the bar higher, to over 60 million. So far he has played 92 games in total for the Nerazzurri and scored 40 goals (as well as 23 assists). The current season could be that of the definitive consecration judging by the trend reported by some data.
Goals from Lookman and Zaniolo launch Atalanta into ninth place in the Champions League: Stuttgart defeated at home
The numbers don’t say everything but they help to outline the framework within which Lookman paints his football: 6 goals and 4 assists in 9 matches played so far in Serie A, 2 goals and 1 assist in the new Champions League; in the recent edition of the Africa Cup of Nations he pushed the Eagles with a double against Cameroon (round of 16) and a flash against Angola (quarters), suffering the disappointment of the defeat suffered in the comeback in the final against the Ivory Coast.
The other prizes provided by the African Football Confederation
In addition to the category for the best footballer of the year, CAF has announced five others with the relevant reference candidates. Below is the complete list of expected nominations taking into account that the 2024 Awards cover the period between January 2024 and October 2024:
- Goalkeeper of the Year
André Onana (Manchester United)
Yahia Fofana (Angers)
Mostafa Shobeir (Al Ahly)
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United)
Ronwen Wlliams (Mamelodi Sunsets). - Coach of the Year
Pedro Gonçalves (Angola)
Emerged Fae (Ivory Coast)
Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo)
Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
Hugo Broos (South Africa). - Young Player of the Year
Karim Konate (Salisburgo)
Oumar Diakité (Reims)
Yankuba Minteh (Brighton)
Eliesse Ben Seghir (Monaco)
Lamine Camara (Monaco) - Club of the Year
Al Ahly and Zamalek
Berkane
Mamelodi Sundowns
Esperance - National Team of the Year
Ivory Coast
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Nigeria
Sud Africa
Sudan.
Source: www.fanpage.it
