Atalanta’s Lookman named African Footballer of the Year

Ademola Lookman has been named African Footballer of the Year for the first time ever after a stellar year with Atalanta in Serie A.

Lookman defeated Simon Adingra from Ivory Coast, Serhou Guirassy from Guinea and Achraf Hakimi from Morocco, among others, to win the award in Marrakesh.

He also became the seventh Nigerian to win the award after Nwankwo Kanu (two), Victor Ikpeba, Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike and Victor Osimhen.

Lookman enjoyed an incredible second season under Gian Piero Gasperini, registering 27 goals (17 goals, 10 assists) in 45 games in all competitions.

Three of those goals came in the Europa League final, with his first career hat-trick giving Atalanta a 3–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen as they claimed their first European title.

He also became only the second player to score a treble in the final of a major European competition for an Italian side, after Pierino Prati for Milan against Ajax in 1969.

And Lookman has continued his good form this season as Atalanta top the Serie A table.

This season, only Atalanta teammate Mateo Retegui (15) and Marcus Thuram (14) have been involved in more goals in Serie A than Lookman (12).

His late winner against Milan earlier this month saw Atalanta equal the record number of consecutive wins in Serie A, before surpassing that total against Cagliari last time out.

On the international stage, Lookman was named in the team of the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, scoring three goals as the Super Eagles finished second.

He was also the only African shortlisted for this year's men's Ballon d'Or, finishing 14th.

Orlando Pride forward Barbra Banda made history as the first Zambian to win the women's award, finishing ahead of Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigerian Chiamaka Nnadozie.