Sport
“Don’t Let Your Failures Break Your Wings”- Lookman on Winning CAF Player of the Year
Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman delivered an inspiring and heartfelt acceptance speech after being named the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
The 27-year-old Nigerian footballer received the prestigious award, beating out strong competition from top names such as Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
In his acceptance speech, Lookman took a moment to reflect on a pivotal turning point in his career.
He recalled an unforgettable moment from 2020 when he was playing for Fulham in the Premier League.
In a crucial match against West Ham, Lookman attempted a panenka-style penalty in the dying moments of the game.
His delicate chip lacked the necessary power, and the ball meekly landed into the hands of West Ham’s goalkeeper, Lukasz Fabianski.
Fulham went on to lose 1-0, and the miss became a memorable moment of disappointment in Lookman’s career.
However, Lookman didn’t allow that moment to define him.
Instead, he used it as a catalyst for growth and determination.
Reflecting on the incident, Lookman said, “Just over four years ago, I failed in front of the world. Fast forward four years and I’m the best player in Africa.”
“To the young children and people watching this,” Lookman continued, “don’t let your failures weigh you down to the point where they break your wings.
Turn your pain into your power and continue to fly.”
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.”
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