Who is African footballer of the year 2024?

The CAF Awards, a ceremony with over 30 years of history, was first officially established by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in 1992. Originally, the "African Footballer of the Year" title was managed by France Football magazine starting in 1970, with Malian legend Salif Keïta as the first recipient. However, in 1992, CAF took full control to create an official platform that celebrates the continent's elite talent and promotes African football values globally. 

Over the decades, the ceremony has honored dozens of legendary figures, from Abedi Pele to Samuel Eto'o. Typically held in December, the gala has moved from various historic cities like Abuja, Accra, and Dakar to its recent glamorous home in Marrakech, Morocco.

In 2024, the voting was heavily influenced by the dramatic AFCON 2023 tournament and stellar club performances. Ultimately, the top prize went to the hero of the Europa League final, the man who lit up the Dublin sky with a historic hat-trick. As we explore the results, Livescorecz will also review the winners in the women's category, including the historic triumph of the African footballer of the year 2024.

African footballer of the year 2024

Ademola Lookman officially became the African footballer of the year 2024 after a season that defied all expectations. The Nigeria and Atalanta forward beat out fierce competition from Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy. 

During the 2023-24 club season, Lookman made 45 appearances for Atalanta, contributing 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions. His most iconic performance occurred on May 22, 2024, in the Europa League final against an undefeated Bayer Leverkusen. On that night in Dublin, Lookman scored a sensational hat-trick, becoming the first African player to score 3 goals in a major European club final. This performance secured Atalanta's first-ever European trophy and ended Leverkusen’s 51-game unbeaten streak.

On the international stage, Lookman was equally lethal. Representing Nigeria at AFCON 2023, he played 7 matches, scoring 3 goals and providing 1 assist, leading the Super Eagles to the final where they finished as runners-up to Ivory Coast. This was the first time in his career he received the top individual honor in Africa, helping Nigeria achieve a historic "back-to-back" feat following Victor Osimhen’s win in 2023, a milestone not seen since 1997. Lookman, who currently plays in La Liga at Atletico Madrid, continued his fine form into the AFCON 2025 in Morocco. He played 6 matches, scored 4 goals and also created 4 assists, helping Nigeria claim third place.

Women's African footballer of the year 2024

The title of Women’s African footballer of the year 2024 was awarded to Zambia’s Barbra Banda, who made history as the first Zambian to ever win this prize. She finished ahead of strong contenders such as Morocco’s Sanaâ Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie. Banda’s 2024 season was nothing short of legendary. Playing for Orlando Pride in the United States' NWSL, she scored 13 regular-season goals and 3 playoff goals. Her greatest moment came in the NWSL Championship final against Washington Spirit, where she scored the winning goal to secure the club's first-ever title.

Beyond her club success, Banda dominated the world stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics. She scored 4 goals in just 3 games, including a historic hat-trick against Australia, making her the first player to score three hat-tricks across multiple Olympic Games. Since her international debut in 2016, she has represented Zambia in two Olympics and the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup, where she scored the 1,000th goal in the tournament's history. 

Currently a superstar for Orlando Pride, Banda has solidified her legacy as the greatest scorer in Zambian history. Her win at the CAF Awards 2024 marks a breakthrough for Southern African football, proving that talent from smaller nations can dominate the continental stage through sheer hard work and brilliance.

Livescorecz.net has summarized the two most outstanding faces of Africa in 2024. Do you truly agree with the voting decisions from CAF regarding the African footballer of the year 2024? Football is always a subject of debate, and every fan has their own hero. 

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