Lookman, 3 Other Nigerians Nominated for Men’s CAF Awards, As Boniface Misses Out

Lookman, 3 Other Nigerians Nominated for Men’s CAF Awards, As Boniface Misses Out

  • The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the men's nominees for its 2024 Awards
  • Ademola Lookman was expectedly nominated for the Men's Best award while Victor Boniface missed out
  • Nigeria received four nominations in three categories, including two nominees in the main category

The Confederation of African Football has released the list of nominees for its 2024 CAF Awards, and Nigeria received four nominations in three categories.

Bayer Leverkusen striker Victor Boniface is a big talking point as he surprisingly misses out on the 10-man shortlist for the Men's Player of the Year.

Stanley Nwabali, William Troost-Ekong, Super Eagles, Nigeria, AFCON 2023, Cameroon, Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Stanley Nwabali and William Troost-Ekong having a conversation during AFCON 2023 Round of 16 match against Cameroon. Photo by Ulrik Pedersen.
Source: Getty Images

The Super Eagles had two nominations in the Men's Best category, including top favourite Ademola Lookman and captain William Troost-Ekong.

The award ceremony will be held in Marrakech, Morocco, for the third successive year, as earlier confirmed by the organisation. Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala won their awards in the same venue in 2023.

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Legit.ng looks at the four Nigerians who received nominations.

1. Ademola Lookman

As expected, Atalanta and Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman was named in the 10-man shortlist for the Men's Player of the Year after a remarkable year for club and country. He is the leading favourite to win the award, with PSG and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi likely to challenge.

2. William Troost-Ekong

Not many expected Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong to be in the running for the award, but after winning the AFCON 2023 Player of the Tournament in a year that the award leans towards the championship, he deservedly received his nomination.

3. Stanley Nwabali

Nwabali rose to the ranks of the Super Eagles' first-choice goalkeeper at AFCON 2023 and produced strings of impressive performances, including the penalty heroics against South Africa in the semifinal. The Chippa United goalie is up against local South African rival Williams and others.

Read also

Super Eagles star Victor Boniface reacts to CAF POTY nomination snub

4. Super Eagles

The Nigerian senior men's national team was nominated for the Team of the Year. This is a category highly doubtful of coming home. AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast could be coasting home with this already. If only we had defeated them on February 11.

Boniface reacts to nomination snub

Legit.ng reported that Victor Boniface reacted to his nomination snub after the men's category for the 2024 CAF Awards was announced yesterday evening.

The Bayer Leverkusen star took his usual comic style but passed a profound message, detailing his achievements and adding a cheeky “but no AFCON” at the end.

Nigeria move up on FIFA rankings

Legit.ng reported that Nigeria moved up on FIFA rankings despite not playing their second game of the October international break against the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.

The Super Eagles moved up three places on the world rankings and are now fourth in Africa behind Morocco, Egypt and Senegal and above AFCON 2023 winners Ivory Coast.

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Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Elijah Odetokun avatar

Elijah Odetokun (Sports Editor) Elijah Odetokun is a Nigerian sports editor at Legit NG. He has four years of working experience having previously worked at Daily Times Nigeria (August 2020 - September 2020), OmaSports (December 2020 - June 2021), El Futbolero (July 2021; September 2021- November 2021), and Sports Brief (November 2022 - July 2024). He is a press conference and interview specialist and has attended trainings held by Reuters, AIPS, and FIJ. He holds a Bachelor of Agriculture (2021) from the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Reach me via elijah.odetokun@sportsbrief.com