By Wale Mustapha
Newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, Ademola Lookman, has expressed his determination to use his recent CAF honor to inspire young talents across the continent.
The 27-year-old Atalanta forward clinched the prestigious award at the 2024 CAF Awards held in Marrakech, Morocco, after defeating four other top contenders for the Golden prize.
Lookman, who has enjoyed a stellar year, shared his excitement at joining the ranks of Africa’s football legends who have previously won the coveted award.
“I am thrilled to be listed among the greats who have won this award,” Lookman said. “For us to inspire the young kids who dream of being like us is the most important thing. If we can set a good example, they have solid footsteps to follow.”
In his speech, the Super Eagles winger also took the opportunity to thank those who have supported him throughout his journey, including his fans, family, teammates, and friends.
“I am very appreciative of your love, care, and kind words, especially during the tough moments, not just the good times,” he said. “The people who stand by you in difficult times are the ones you are most grateful for.”
Lookman’s triumph not only solidifies his place among Africa’s best but also underscores his commitment to becoming a positive role model for aspiring young footballers.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
