Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Zambia’s Barbra Banda were named African Players of the Year at the 2024 Confederation of African Football (Caf) Awards in Marrakesh. Lookman, 27, secured the men’s title after an exceptional season with Atalanta, including a historic hat-trick that helped his team clinch their first European trophy. On the international stage, he shone at the Africa Cup of Nations, scoring three goals to help his country to second place and earning a spot in the tournament’s Best XI. Banda, 24, became the first Zambian to win the women’s award, following a stellar year with Orlando Pride, where she scored the decisive goal in the NWSL Championship final and was named league MVP. The awards night also honored Ivory Coast as Men’s National Team of the Year and Nigeria as Women’s National Team of the Year.
SOURCE: BBC