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.
Football legend Paul Scholes shares thoughts on the player that should be replaced at Chelsea.
He stated that Xabi Alonso should replace Robert Sanchez. He revealed this while speaking on what he thinks is holding the club down.
“I think the goalkeeper is a problem there at Chelsea; he’s a liability. He can’t play the way they will want to play. With the way Chelsea will play, I agree. He can’t do it. I’m pretty sure Xabi Alonso will want to play that way, to build out from the back, so he will need a new goalkeeper then.”
Harry Kane has won the European Golden Boot for the second time in his football career.
The award followed his impressive performance in the Bundesliga.
He scored 36 goals in 31 Bundesliga games for Vincent Kompany’s side during the 2025/26 season, collecting 72 points to finish as Europe’s top scorer across all domestic leagues.
It is noted that he finished just ahead of Erling Haaland.
Pep Guardiola reveals why he left Manchester City. It can be recalled that the manager recently left Man City, and now he has revealed his reason during an interaction with reporters.
He shared that he is running out of energy.
“I share the same feeling as when Jurgen Klopp left, I am running out of energy. I feel like I will not have the energy that is required for a game every three days, to fight for titles, being in front of the players every day.”
He then added that he believes the club should have a new manager with fresh energy to direct the team.
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