Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has lifted Nigeria’s spirit at a time one of her daughters in the Diaspora, Kemi Badenoch, is openly confronting her.
Lookman was crowned African Player of The Year even as Super Falcons retained their Women’s National Team of The Year award, and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie again emerged the Goalkeeper of The Year title at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Morocco, on Monday.
Now Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party, Badenoch is so angry at Nigeria that she does not waste any opportunity to knock her.
Her comments have continued to spark mixed reactions with the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, being one of the prominent Nigerians who have challenged her position.
Lookman’s triumph made him the seventh Nigerian to win the prestigious award and maintained Nigeria’s impressive record in the category following Victor Osimhen’s victory last year.
The victory sees Nigeria move clear of Ivory Coast with seven Player of The Year awards, with previous winners being Rashidi Yekini (1993), Emmanuel Amuneke (1994), Nwankwo Kanu (1996 and 1999), Victor Ikpeba (1997) and Osimhen (2023). Only Cameroon, with 11 titles, have more.
The Atalanta striker’s remarkable year included three goals and two assists as Nigeria reached their eighth Africa Cup of Nations final in February, while his hat-trick secured the UEFA Europa Cup for Atalanta against Bayer Leverkusen in May.
