National Teams
Adebayor picks favourite to win CAF POTY Award, snubs Ademola, Boniface
By Monsurah Olatunji
Former Togo striker, Emmanuel Adebayor has pitched his tent of support towards Guinean striker Serhou Guirassy to win the 2024 CAF Player Of The Year (POTY) award.
While Guirassy impressed in Germany, Ademola Lookman emerged as a top contender for the award.
Although Osimhen deservedly won last year’s African Footballer of the Year award, Adebayor feels he will likely not be a contender this year.
Despite his struggles with Napoli, his goalscoring record remains impressive, with 17 goals in all competitions.
Similarly, Mohamed Salah, despite a quiet season for Liverpool, maintains a respectable tally of 18 Premier League goals and 25 goals in all competitions, along with 14 assists.
Bayer Leverkusen forward, Victor Boniface was also one of the best African players last season. He scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists in 34 matches as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time. However, he missed the 2023 AFCON due to injury.
On the other hand, Ademola Lookman had an impressive AFCON outing leading the Super Eagles to the final and scoring three goals. He also bagged a hat-trick in the Europa League final –the first to do so— to secure an elusive piece of silverware for Atalanta.
As a key member of the Ligue 1 champions and a semi-finalist in the Champions League, Achraf Hakimi’s contributions further intensify the competition for the award.
However, 2008 CAF African Footballer of the Year, Adebayor, believed Serhou Guirassy deserved the award more than any other player from the continent.
The Guinean striker had a remarkable campaign, finishing second in the Bundesliga Golden Boot race, just behind Harry Kane.
Speaking to Afrik-Foot, Adebayor, backed him to win the award ahead of other contenders like Ademola Lookman and Victor Boniface.
“Of course [he deserves to win],” Adebayor told Afrik-Foot.
“He had an extraordinary season with Stuttgart, he is a striker who scored a lot.
“He will be one of the contenders, that’s for sure, especially since Salah has not scored as much, Victor Osimhen did not have the same season as the year of the title. It’s open this year. If it’s Guirassy, it will be deserved.”
The 28-year-old bagged 28 league goals to help Stuttgart finish second in the German top flight.
