Lookman, Ekong Nominated for CAF Player of the Year

*Super Eagles move up three spots in October FIFA Ranking

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Expectedly, Ademola Lookman’s spectacular form since the close of last season that culminated in his scoring the three goals that won the UEFA Europa League crown for Italian Serie A side, Atalanta, has earned him nomination by CAF for this year’s African Player of the Year.

Lookman’s on field Captain in the Super Eagles, William Troost-Ekong, was also listed among the 10 players shortlisted by CAF for the prestigious annual football gong.

Ekong’s leading role in the Super Eagles, pushed Nigeria to finish as the runners up at this year’s AFCON won by host nation, Côte d’Ivoire, last February in Abidjan.

Interestingly, Nigeria’s No 1 goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, also got a look in as he has been nominated for the Goalkeeper of the Year after his exploits at the delayed 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire, while the Super Eagles are in the running for the National Team of the Year top prize.

Surprisingly, Victor Boniface who partly led Bayer Leverkusen to their first ever German Bundesliga crown last season lost out in the running for the Player of the Year award.

This year’s award ceremony will also be staged in Marrekesh, Morocco, in December.

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen is the reigning African Player of the Year, while compatriot Asisat Oshoala holds the women’s version.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Eagles have moved up three spots to place 36th globally in the October FIFA ranking released on Thursday.

In the release by FIFA, Nigeria garnered 1503.29 points within the period reviewed for the ranking.

Super Eagles Libya’s Mediterranean Knights in the first leg match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers by a lone goal on October 11, in Uyo.

Perhaps, Nigeria’s movement would have been better  if only Libyan authorities did not hold the Super Eagles and their officials hostage in an abandoned airport during the reversed fixture scheduled for Benina, Benghazi penultimate Sunday.

CAF has assured football stakeholders that a decision will be take on the matter to curb some countries’ hostility to visiting teams.

In the continental ranking, Super Eagles were ranked  fourth behind Morocco, Senegal and Egypt instead of the sixth spot they occupied in September.

In the fifth to 10th spot in the African ranking include; Algeria(5), Côte d’Ivoire (6), Cameroon (7), Mali (8), Congo DR (9) and South Africa (10).

On the global scene, world champions Argentina (1st) are still on top, but their lead over France (2nd) and Spain (3rd) has been cut. England (4th), Brazil (5th) and Belgium (6th) have all held on to their positions. Portugal (7th, up 1) and Italy (9th, up 1) are the only climbers within the Top 10, which is completed by the Netherlands (8th, down 1) and Colombia (10th, down 1), with Germany (11th, up 2) now knocking on the door.

32 qualifiers for the FIFA World Cup 2026, 47 for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025, 79 Nations League matches and 17 friendlies were played during the recent international window.

This made October a particularly busy month of football and one that has led to a number of changes in the FIFA/Coca-Cola Men’s World Ranking.

The next FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking will be published on 28 November 2024.