In the latest revelation by Sport News Africa, Nigerian international Lukman, the striker-killer who has donned the colours of Italian club Atalanta, is widely tipped to become the next generation of soccer superstars by winning the 2024 Mr. African Football. This happy news, no doubt, is a shot in the arm for Nigerian soccer.
CAF has long unveiled its list of five candidates for the 2024 African Footballer of the Year, which includes Côte d'Ivoire's Addingira (now playing for Brighton), Guinea's Sairo Girassi (now playing for Borussia Dortmund), Morocco's Ashraf (now playing for Paris Saint-Germain), Nigeria's Lukman (now playing for Atalanta), and South Africa's Lonwen Williams (now playing for the Mamelodi Sunset) . These players are well deserving of their nominations, as evidenced by their outstanding performances on their respective fields.
But after a tough competition, Luqman came out on top and managed to take the crown of Mr. African Football 2024. His performance in Atlanta was undoubtedly well-rounded, both in terms of the breakthrough and shooting skills he showed on the offensive line, as well as the interceptions and tackles he made on the defensive end, which earned him unanimous praise from both the fans and the judges.
It is worth noting that Sport News Africa also revealed the winners of two other awards. Zambian star Barbara Banda, who currently plays for Orlando Pride, was voted Africa's best women's soccer player for her outstanding skills and leadership. The Ivory Coast national team manager, Fahey, was crowned Africa's best manager for his tactical planning and team management.
