Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Zambia’s Barbra Banda, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams were the standout winners at the prestigious 2024 CAF Awards held on Monday in Marrakech, Morocco. The star-studded ceremony celebrated Africa’s finest footballers and the remarkable strides made in the men’s and women’s game.

Ademola Lookman claimed the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award following an extraordinary 12 months with Italian club Atalanta and Nigeria’s Super Eagles. Lookman’s triumph marks the first time Nigeria has secured back-to-back winners in this category since the 1990s, following Victor Osimhen’s 2023 win.

Barbra Banda was named Women’s Player of the Year after a sensational season with Orlando Pride in the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL). Banda led her team to the NWSL Shield and Championship, scoring the decisive goal in the final. She also made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, notching her third career hat-trick in the competition, an all-time record. Banda became the first African to feature in the FIFPRO Women’s World 11 in 2024.

South Africa’s Ronwen Williams emerged as a double winner, clinching both the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year and Men’s Interclub Player of the Year awards. Williams’ heroics at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2023, including four penalty saves in the quarterfinal shootout against Cape Verde, were unforgettable. Domestically, Williams captained Mamelodi Sundowns to their seventh consecutive league title, setting a record-low of just 11 goals conceded in 30 games.

Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie retained the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the second year running after another stellar season for French side Paris FC, where she was crowned the Première Ligue Goalkeeper of the Season.

Other big winners on the night included:

• Sanaâ Mssoudy (AS FAR and Morocco): Women’s Interclub Player of the Year.
• Lamine Camara (Senegal and Monaco): Men’s Young Player of the Year.
• Doha El Madani (AS FAR and Morocco): Women’s Young Player of the Year.
• Emerse Faé: Men’s Coach of the Year for leading Côte d’Ivoire to AFCON glory.
• Lamia Boumehdi: Women’s Coach of the Year for guiding TP Mazembe to the CAF Women’s Champions League title.

Côte d’Ivoire’s AFCON triumph earned them the Men’s National Team of the Year, while Nigeria’s Super Falcons were named Women’s National Team of the Year. Al Ahly (Egypt) took home the Men’s Club of the Year after dominating the CAF Champions League, while TP Mazembe won the Women’s Club of the Year.

Angola’s Mabululu won Goal of the Year for his stunning finish against Namibia at AFCON 2023—an award determined by fan votes.

CAF President Dr. Patrice Motsepe’s commitment to recognizing match officials was fulfilled, with Libya’s Mutaz Ibrahim named Men’s Referee of the Year and Morocco’s Bouchra Karboubi claiming the Women’s Referee of the Year title.

The evening concluded with the announcement of the CAF-FIFPRO Africa Best XI for both men and women, spotlighting the continent’s top performers in every position.

The 2024 CAF Awards celebrated the remarkable talent and progress in African football, highlighting a year of record-breaking achievements and unforgettable moments on and off the pitch.

2024 CAF AWARDS WINNERS

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

CAF PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Barbra Banda (Zambia / Orlando Pride)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Paris FC)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

CAF INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)   
Sanaâ Mssoudy (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

CAF YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

CAF COACH OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Lamia Boumehdi (TP Mazembe)

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Cote d’Ivoire

CAF NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)  
Nigeria

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Al Ahly (Egypt)

CAF CLUB OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Mutaz Ibrahim (Libya)

CAF REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (MEN)
Elvis Guy Noupue Nguegoue (Cameroon)

CAF ASSISTANT REFEREE OF THE YEAR (WOMEN)
Diana Chikotesha (Zambia)

CAF GOAL OF THE YEAR
Mabululu (Angola)

[Source: CAF Comms]