With the Christmas season well underway and the spirit of good cheer filling the air, Nigerian sports faithfuls could not ask for anything better than a successful outing, for all Nigerians nominated at the 2024 CAF Awards which held on Monday, December 16 2024, and Santa Claus made sure to put pleasant gifts in their stockings.

The prestigious event, which held in the vibrant city of Marrakesh, Morocco, serves the purpose of recognising and celebrating outstanding achievements of African Players for their club and country.

Ademola Lookman who has received widespread laurels for his stellar 2024 performance, saw his efforts crowned as he was named the Men’s African Player of the year. Chiamaka Nnadozie ( Safe Hands), known for her exceptional goalkeeping skills, was named the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the second consecutive time. And Nigeria’s women’s national team, the Super Falcons, won the Women’s National Team of the year for the second time in a row and saw four of her players make the African best XI for women. It was a great day indeed.

Ademola Lookman

Lookman was named CAF Men’s Player of the Year after a sensational 12 months with Italian side Atalanta and the Nigeria’s Super Eagles following in the footsteps of compatriot Victor Osimhen, who claimed the award in 2023.

It is the first time Nigeria has had back-to-back winners in the Men’s award since Nwankwo Kanu (1996) and Victor Ikpeba (1997) were honoured almost three decades ago.

Here’s a glimpse into Lookman’s remarkable 2024 stats:

41 goals and assists
Europa League Champion
Hattrick in UEL Final
Ballon d’Or Nominee (only African)
Atalanta POTY
Super Cup runner-up
3 goals at AFCON (RO16 brace and Quarter Final)
AFCON Finalist
Super Eagles joint top-scorer at AFCON
About 20 MOTM awards
UEL Team of the season

Chiamaka Nnadozie

Nnadozie claimed the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year in a row having had another outstanding season for French side Paris FC, where she was named Première Ligue Goalkeeper of the Season for 2023-24.

Here’s a glimpse of Chiamaka Nnadozie’s stellar year:

• 28 games
• 10 clean sheets
• 3 penalties saved 2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)   
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Cote d’Ivoire

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (WOMEN) 
Nigeria

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Al Ahly (Egypt)

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)

CAF GOAL OF THE YEAR
Mabululu (Angola)