Super Eagles forward, Ademola Lookman, has been named the Best African International Footballer at the Ghana Football Awards in Accra.
The Atalanta star earned this accolade following an outstanding season with both Nigeria’s Super Eagles and his Italian club.
Lookman notably scored a hat-trick to propel Atalanta to a victory over Bayer Leverkusen, clinching the UEFA Europa League title last season.
Lookman surpassed Victor Boniface and Bayer Leverkusen’s Edmund Tapsoba to secure the award.
He takes over from Napoli forward Victor Osimhen, who won the previous year after guiding his team to the Serie A title and later being named CAF Africa’s Best Player.
Lookman now stands as a strong candidate for Africa’s top individual football award this year.
In a heartfelt video message, he shared his appreciation, “Thank you for the consideration, the recognition, and the votes. This means a lot to me and my family. I wish I was in Ghana, but my heart is with you all. Thank you and God bless.”
The former Fulham and Leicester City player enjoyed a remarkable year, leading Nigeria to the Africa Cup of Nations final and netting a hat-trick in the Europa League final.
The forward’s hat-trick in the Europa League final was pivotal in Atalanta’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen. Additionally, he was instrumental in Atalanta’s fourth-place finish in Serie A, recording 17 goals and 10 assists across all competitions.
Lookman’s stellar performances have drawn attention from top European clubs and interest from Saudi Arabia.
Also recognized at the Ghana Football Awards was West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus, who won two awards, including Ghana Player of the Year, for his impressive season in England and his contributions at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Kudus’ solo goal against Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League was acclaimed as the best goal of the night.
