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.
Former English footballer, Jamie Redknapp, makes bold suggestion regarding Mohamed Salah to leave the club, Liverpool.
The suggestion came after Liverpool manager Arne Slot criticized the player — a move Redknapp called out following Salah’s benching in the last match.
The former player shared “I don’t necessarily think in January. I just think we have got to let this settle. But I don’t foresee that he will see out the two years of his contract. I think it might be more in the summer.”
Arsenal football manager Mikel Arteta speaks on the team’s defeat against Aston Villa, 2–1, in their match on Saturday.
It can be recalled that Aston Villa scored a goal in the first half, but Arsenal scored back in the second half. After equalizing, Aston Villa scored another goal.
“In the first half we had moments, obviously had the best chance after a foul on Riccy [Calafiori] that Watkins goes through,” Arteta said.
“In the second half we started really well. Scored a goal and we were really dominant.”
Former Liverpool player, Jamie Carragher, speaks on Arsenal’s next match and claims that their game against Aston Villa will be challenging and described it as a test for the team to see how well they perform.
“Arsenal have looked the best team in the league by a long way so far this season, but Man City are still only five points behind.
There’s a long way to go and Arsenal will need to keep their heads! It could be tested tomorrow against Aston Villa!!”
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