Former Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has expressed his confidence in Ademola Lookman's potential to clinch the prestigious 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year award.
The Nigerian international, who has had an outstanding year both for his club Atalanta and the national team, is among the final nominees for the coveted accolade.
Lookman, 27, has been a standout performer, showcasing his prowess on multiple fronts.
During the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations held in Côte d’Ivoire, he netted three goals and provided an assist in seven appearances, playing a pivotal role in Nigeria's journey to the finals. His club performances have been equally impressive, with Lookman scoring a historic hat-trick in the UEFA Europa League final, leading Atalanta to a memorable victory over Bayer Leverkusen.
This season, he has amassed 11 goals and five assists from 18 outings across all competitions. Gernot Rohr, now coaching the Benin Republic, has been vocal about Lookman's transformation into a "complete player."
In a conversation with Foot Africa, Rohr remarked, "He has made a lot of progress. His difficult first seasons in England and Germany are now a thing of the past. He has managed to get back up and shine."
Rohr's support for Lookman is not just based on recent performances but also on the player's journey from adversity to excellence. "I followed him a few years ago with the Super Eagles. He went from the shadows to the light. Today, he is as effective as an assister as he is as a scorer," Rohr added.
The CAF Awards ceremony, set to take place at the Palais des congrès de Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16, 2024, will see Lookman competing against other top African talents, including Simon Adingra (Ivory Coast), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), and Ronwen Williams (South Africa).
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