Former Ghana international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has expressed his firm belief that Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman deserves to win the 2024 African Player of the Year (APOTY) award.
Lookman has made a significant impact at Serie A side Atalanta and for the Super Eagles, catching Agyemang-Badu’s attention as a top contender for the title.
“Without a doubt, one of my favorite players, Lookman, has been outstanding for both his club and country. I fully support him to win the award,” Agyemang-Badu stated to Flashscore.com.
Lookman’s influence has also been recognized on the international stage, as he finished 14th in the 2024 Men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, making him the highest-placed African player this year.
His impressive performances with Atalanta and the Nigerian national team further solidify his claim for the 2024 APOTY award.
The Confederation of African Football recently announced its 10-man shortlist for the continent’s top player, which includes notable names such as Lookman, South Africa’s Ronwell Williams, Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, and DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba.
Surprisingly, West Ham’s Mohammed Kudus was not included on the list despite his commendable season, where he scored 14 goals and provided six assists across 45 appearances.
His contributions were crucial in helping West Ham secure a ninth-place finish in the Premier League and reach the Europa League quarter-finals.
While disappointed by Kudus’ omission, Agyemang-Badu remains optimistic about his future prospects. “I was hoping he would make the shortlist, but there were many outstanding players who excelled in Africa last year,” he remarked.
“He’s still young and has plenty of opportunities to be crowned Africa’s best. He just needs to stay focused, keep learning, and continue growing. His time will come—it’s a marathon, not a sprint,” Agyemang-Badu added.
The former Udinese midfielder also highlighted the difficulties faced by Ghanaian players in securing the continental honor, noting that no Ghanaian has won the award since Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew in 1992.
Several Ghanaians, including Samuel Kuffour, Michael Essien, Asamoah Gyan, and Dede Ayew, have been nominated but narrowly missed out on the title.
Reflecting on the development of Ghanaian football, Agyemang-Badu commended the achievements of younger talents like Abdul Aziz Issah and John Antwi, who are both nominated for the Interclub Player of the Year.
He praised the Ghana Football Association and Dream FC for their accomplishments, labeling it “a great achievement for Ghana football, particularly for the Ghana Premier League.”
“I’m a very happy man. Ronwell Williams has done an excellent job, and any of the nominees could win. However, I’ll be cheering for my fellow Ghanaians. Regardless of the outcome, I’m incredibly proud of them,” Agyemang-Badu concluded.