South African goalkeeper Ronwen Williams came heartbreakingly close to making history as the first goalkeeper in 28 years to win the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
However, the coveted title went to Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman at a glamorous ceremony in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday night.
Lookman’s CAF Awards 2024 win caps off a stellar year
Ademola Lookman, whose dazzling performances propelled Atalanta to European success and Nigeria to the CAF AFCON final, was crowned the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year.
His clinical finishing and consistent brilliance set him apart from a fiercely competitive shortlist that included Williams, Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi, and Simon Adingra.
RelatedPosts
Ronwen Williams scoops ‘Goalkeeper of the Year’ award
While Williams missed out on the top honour, his exceptional year with Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns did not go unnoticed.
The Bafana captain, who was a Yashin Trophy nominee earlier this year, took home the Goalkeeper of the Year award.
Williams’ penalty-saving heroics during South Africa’s AFCON campaign and his leadership at club level solidified his reputation as one of Africa’s finest shot-stoppers.
List of 2024 CAF Award winners
Here are the night’s major honorees:
- Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
- Women’s Player of the Year: Barbra Banda (Zambia)
- Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Ronwen Williams (South Africa)
- Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Hugo Broos (South Africa)
- Women’s Coach of the Year: Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco)
- Goal of the Year: Saïd Benrahma (Algeria)
- Young Player of the Year (Men): Karim Konaté (Côte d’Ivoire)
- Young Player of the Year (Women): Lamine Camara (Senegal)
- CAF FIFPro Africa Best XI (Men and Women): Various
