Super Eagles duo, Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong, have earned recognition on the Confederation of African Football shortlist for the prestigious 2023 Africa Player of the Year award.
Lookman, the talented winger from Atalanta, and Troost-Ekong, now playing as a defender for Saudi side Al Kholood, are among the top ten African players vying for this prestigious accolade.
Joining them are DR Congo’s seasoned defender Chancel Mbemba, currently with Olympique Marseille, and Morocco’s Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi, known for his exploits both domestically and internationally.
Borussia Dortmund’s lethal striker Serhou Guirassy also made the cut after an impressive season.
One of the notable additions is Brighton & Hove Albion’s rising star Simon Adingra, who was instrumental in Côte d’Ivoire’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations victory.
Also featured is Edmond Tapsoba, the highly rated centre-back from Bayer Leverkusen, and Algeria’s forward Amine Gouiri, currently impressing at Stade Rennais.
South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, who doubles as a goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns and is a nominee for the CAF Goalkeeper of the Year award, earned a spot on the list.
Completing the lineup is Soufiane Rahimi, Morocco’s star forward for Al Ain FC in the UAE Pro League.
However, one of the most shocking omissions from the list is reigning African Footballer of the Year, Victor Osimhen.
The Nigerian striker, who made history in 2023 by becoming the first Nigerian in 24 years to win the award, has not been shortlisted to defend his title.
This is particularly surprising considering his prolific performances for Napoli and Galatasaray, along with his displays for Nigeria during AFCON.
Victor Boniface, another Nigerian standout, was also left out of the top ten despite his breakout debut season with Bayer Leverkusen.
Boniface was instrumental in the club’s league and cup double win, scoring vital goals throughout the campaign and earning the Bundesliga Rookie of the Year title.
Unfortunately, his absence from AFCON 2023 due to injury likely played a role in his exclusion.
In light of these omissions, Ademola Lookman stands out as one of Nigeria’s brightest hopes. The 26-year-old winger has had a remarkable year with Atalanta, shining in both Serie A and the Europa League.
One of his standout moments was netting a hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen, leading Atalanta to victory in May.
Lookman also emerged as Nigeria’s joint-top scorer during AFCON 2023, helping the Super Eagles secure the silver medal.
Troost-Ekong, on the other hand, was a defensive pillar for Nigeria during AFCON. His efforts earned him the competition’s Most Valuable Player title, and he, alongside Lookman, was named in the AFCON Team of the Tournament.
Here is the full list of CAF Africa Player of the Year Nominees for 2023:
1. Ademola Lookman, Nigeria – Atalanta
2. William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria – Al Kholood
3. Chancel Mbemba, DR Congo – Olympique Marseille
4. Achraf Hakimi, Morocco – Paris Saint-Germain
5. Serhou Guirassy, Guinea – Borussia Dortmund
6. Simon Adingra, Côte d’Ivoire – Brighton & Hove Albion
7. Edmond Tapsoba, Burkina Faso – Bayer Leverkusen
8. Amine Gouiri, Algeria – Stade Rennais
9. Ronwen Williams, South Africa – Mamelodi Sundowns
10. Soufiane Rahimi, Morocco – Al Ain FC
With Osimhen and Boniface absent, Lookman is primed to make the most of this opportunity as he continues to build on an already stellar year.
