Sport
Four Nigerian Football Stars Nominated for 2024 FIFA Awards
A remarkable achievement has emerged for Nigerian football as four players have earned nominations for the prestigious Best FIFA Awards 2024.
The list includes Ademola Lookman, William Troost-Ekong, Paul Onuachu, and Asisat Oshoala, each representing Nigeria in different categories, highlighting their exceptional performances over the past year.
Ademola Lookman, a standout player for Serie A side Atalanta, has been nominated in the Best Attacker category.
This recognition comes after a stellar season where Lookman demonstrated his remarkable goal-scoring ability and versatility on the field.
The 27-year-old was also ranked 14th in the Ballon d’Or standings, cementing his status as one of the top talents in world football.
Lookman’s impressive form has made him a favorite for the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award, showcasing his dominance in African football and his continued rise to the top.
In another category, William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria’s stalwart center-back, has been nominated for the Best Defender award.
Troost-Ekong, known for his leadership at the back and crucial defensive contributions, was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Côte d’Ivoire.
His remarkable performance during the tournament helped Nigeria secure a strong presence on the continental stage, and this nomination further acknowledges his consistency and importance to both club and country.
Meanwhile, forward Paul Onuachu, who is currently making waves with his remarkable goal-scoring abilities, is a contender for the highly coveted Puskas Award.
The Puskas Award recognizes the most stunning goal of the year, and Onuachu’s memorable strike against Konyaspor in the 2023-24 Turkish Super Lig has earned him a spot on the shortlist.
The goal, scored on November 10, 2023, while Onuachu was on loan at Trabzonspor, showcased his clinical finishing and ability to shine on the big stage, making it one of the standout moments of the year.
Finally, Asisat Oshoala, one of the finest players in women’s football and a key member of the Super Falcons, has been nominated for the inaugural FIFA Marta Award.
This newly introduced award recognizes the best goal scored by a female player, and Oshoala’s nomination speaks to her incredible skill and determination on the pitch.
Oshoala, who has continually raised the profile of Nigerian women’s football, remains a trailblazer for African women in the sport, and her presence on this list is a testament to her excellence in the game.
Coventry City manager, Frank Lampard, speaks on team player and states how the player’s stance will help the team get into the Premier League.
The player is revealed to be Onyeka who he spoke about in the recent interview.
“He brings a different quality and probably a different profile to the midfield players we have.
“As I say, the profile is slightly different and I think that helps us in terms of the options and the competition in the middle of the park for us.”
Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta, after their last match, shares an update on the injured team members after their last match.
He shared an update on Saka and stated that he is doing better after going through a hip injury. “His hip is improving a lot. Hopefully, he’ll be ready soon.”
He added about the other team members: “Martin is getting better and will be back in a few days, and Jurrien is fit for the weekend.”
Super Eagles footballer, Alex Iwobi, speaks on the World Cup and reveals their hope to play in the 2026 World Cup.
He shared that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is hopeful about hearing from them after they submitted a petition against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“I mean we’re still waiting, well hopefully we can go to the World Cup, but I feel it’s a tough one.
“It’s a tough one because winning AFCON is like… It’s a great legacy, it’s a great thing to have in your career, a memorable moment. But then at the same time, because I’ve been to the World Cup already, a lot of the players haven’t been.”
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