Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong and former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr have thrown their weight behind Ademola Lookman to win the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of The Year award in Marrakech, Morocco on Monday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Lookman, who has scored 11 goals and provided five assists for Atalanta this season, is among the final nominees for the prestigious award alongside Serhou Guirassy, Achraf Hakimi and Rowen Williams.
Speaking with talkSPORT, Troost-Ekong expressed confidence in his international teammate’s chances.
“I would say he’s arguably our best player and arguably the best player in Africa right now. On December 16, there will be the ceremony, and I’m sure he’s going to win it,” Troost-Ekong said.
“This season, he’s been something else, and at AFCON, he was amazing. Everybody saw the hat-trick in the Europa League final, and there were a lot of rumours about big clubs which I know to be true. If I were any top club right now, I’d want him.”
Rohr, now in charge of Benin Republic, also praised Lookman’s development while speaking to Foot Africa.
“He has made a lot of progress, his difficult first season in England and Germany are now a thing of the past. He has managed to get back up and shine,” the former Eagles coach said.
“I followed him a few years ago with the Super Eagles, he went from the shadow to the light, today he is a complete player as effective as an assister as he is as a scorer.”