Sport
“Ademola Lookman Deserves It” – Cédric Bakambu Backs Nigerian Star for CAF Award
Real Betis forward, Cédric Bakambu, has thrown his support behind Nigerian star Ademola Lookman for the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year award.
Lookman’s stellar performances for both his club, Atalanta, and the Nigerian national team have placed him among the top contenders for the prestigious title.
Bakambu, a 33-year-old Congolese international, expressed his belief that Lookman has demonstrated the quality and consistency needed to follow in the footsteps of fellow Nigerian, Victor Osimhen, who won the award in 2023.
Speaking during an interview with Sporty Show, Bakambu acknowledged the fierce competition but remained firm in his choice.
“It’s tough because Mohamed Salah is in great form right now.
But if I had to pick, in my opinion, I’d go with Lookman, the Atalanta player,” Bakambu said.
“He truly deserves it. He’s had an incredible year, but we’ll see what happens.”
Lookman, who joined Atalanta in 2022, has had a breakout year in 2024.
His pivotal role in Atalanta’s Europa League triumph and his consistent performances in Serie A have earned him widespread praise.
He also shined for Nigeria during the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where his goals and attacking flair helped the Super Eagles reach the final.
Meanwhile, the competition for the CAF award remains fierce, with Salah, the Egyptian forward for Liverpool, also having a strong case for the title due to his relentless goal-scoring form.
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
Judge Tells Duane Davis He Must Face Justice for Tupac’s Murder
Timini Egbuson Reflects on Embracing YouTube Movies in Nollywood
