Ademola Lookman emerges as Africa’s sole nominee for 2024 Ballon d’Or

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman made the list of 30 players nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

Organisers of the award, France Football, published the list of 30 men’s players for the award, with the Nigerian forward being the only African player to make the cut.

After ending the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) as Super Eagles too goal scorer, Lookman went on to help Atalanta win the 2023/2024 UEFA Europa League title against compatriot Victor Boniface’s Bayer Leverkusen.

He scored the three goals as his Italian side emerged victorious and ended the German side’s unbeaten record in all competitions.

He has 29 other players to battle with for the award.

They are Jude Bellingham, Hakan Calhanoglu, Dani Carvajal, Ruben Dias, Phil Fodden, Artem Dovbyk, Alejandra Grimaldo, Erling Haaland, Mats Hummels, Harry Kane, Toni Kroos, Emiliano Martinez, Lautauro Martinez, and Kylian Mbappe.

Others are Martin Ødegaard, Dani Olmo, Cold Palmer, Declan Rice, Rodri, Antonio Rudiger, and Bukayo Saka, Nico Williams, Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior, Vitinha, Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Lamine Jamal.

Last year, Victor Osimhen was the only Nigerian player on the nominees list and also won the CAF Player of the Year.