By Victor Kanayo
Three Africans – Ademola Lookman, Williams Troost-Ekong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang have significantly made the 2024 FIFA best Players award nominations.
While Lookman and Aubameyang are nominated for the FIFA World XI in the attacking category, Troost-Ekong is in the defenders selection.
Both join an elite list of nominees which include Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior.
Others nominated for the prestigious award include Akram Afif, German Cano, Artem Dovbyk, Viktor Gyokeres, Lautaro Martinez, Jamal Musiala, Soufiane Rahimi, Goes Rodrygo, Salomon Rondon, Bukayo Saka, Luis Suarez, Ollie Watkins, Nico Williams, and Lamine Yamal.
Ademola Lookman has had an amazing 2024. From ranking 14th in the Ballon D’or to being nominated for the CAF African best player award and also the Globe Soccer Awards for the best men’s player of the year. His recognition in continental and global awards has been outstanding.
In the main categories of The Best Men and The Best Women where there are 11 nominees in each, only two African women footballers made the cut.
They are Malawi’s national women’s team captain, Tabitha Chawinga and Zambia’s Barbra Banda.
Both are also in contention for the African Women’s Footballer of the Year holding in December in Morocco.
Barbra Banda, a key figure in Zambia’s qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics plays for Orlando Pride in South Africa.
Voting is now open on FIFA’s official website across a number of award categories, with fans set to play a key role in choosing the winners.
The voting will be equally weighted between fans, the current captains and coaches of all women’s/men’s national teams, and media representatives.
