Ademola Lookman stands as the clear favourite to win the 2024 CAF African Men’s Player of the Year award; however, former Royal Antwerp star Patrick Pascal has revealed what would happen if the Atalanta forward is snubbed for the accolade.
Pascal boldly declared that Lookman must win this year’s award or the continent’s football governing body risks facing widespread backlash.
The Nigerian forward has been in top form spanning the previous season.
In the 2023–2024 season, he scored 17 goals and made 10 assists in 45 games, including a historic hat-trick in the Europa League to help Atalanta win their first European trophy. He has started the season similarly, tallying eight goals and dishing out five assists in 14 games.
Pay Attention: Get the best tips from our Bet of the Day
Lookman has also been impressive for the Nigerian national team. The 27-year-old winger was the 2023 AFCON joint top scorer with three goals, helping the Super Eagles to a second-place finish in the tournament.
What Pascal said on Lookman winning the POTY award
With these performances, Pascal, who is currently the Nigerian national team coordinator, believes no other player deserves the CAF APOTY other than the Atalanta attacker.
“If Ademola Lookman doesn’t win this CAF award, journalists will finish CAF. The whole world will finish them,” he told Brila.
“What are you going to tell people? So Ademola Lookman stands a good chance to win.”
Lookman is competing with nine other players for the award, including Super Eagles captain Williams Toost-Ekong.
In the meantime, both players make preparations for Nigeria’s AFCON Qualifier’s clash against Benin Republic and Rwanda and will look to help the nation secure a ticket to the tournament’s proper in Morocco.
