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.
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.”
Former Manchester City player David Silva has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or and revealed who he believes could win the prestigious award.
During a recent interview, the former midfielder was asked who he thinks will win the award, and he named Fabian Ruiz.
Silva’s choice sparked reactions from fans, especially as he did not mention Barcelona star Lamine Yamal as one of his picks.
“For me, teamwork is the most important thing, because without it you cannot win. If I had to give the Ballon d’Or to someone, it would be Fabian, because he has won the most titles in the last two years.
“He does not get enough recognition, I do not know why, because he is a wonderful player. I admire him a lot.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the Portugal national team remains uncertain following his sudden departure from the squad ahead of the team’s Nations League match against Denmark.
The 41-year-old forward left the national team camp after he was left on the bench during Portugal’s 2-1 win over Norway and was informed that he would not start against Denmark. Ronaldo later said he would explain his decision to leave the camp at a later time.
Portugal coach Jorge Jesus has since said the door remains open for Ronaldo to return to the national team. Jesus said the decision ultimately rests with Ronaldo, while the Portuguese Football Federation has also described the situation as a misunderstanding.
Ronaldo remains Portugal’s all-time leading scorer, with 146 goals in 234 appearances, and his next decision could determine how his international career ends.
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