Nearly two weeks after Ademola Lookman placed 14th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or, France Football have unveiled the voting breakdown, sparking discussions over each journalist’s selection.
With each of FIFA's top 100 countries represented by a prominent sports journalist, 22 African nations took part in this year’s ballot.
The results revealed a strong African preference for Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, who was placed first by 12 of the 22 African journalists. This support came in contrast to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri, who received six first-place votes from the African panel.
Other names such as Jude Bellingham (Namibia), Kylian Mbappé (Ivory Coast), Lookman (Nigeria), and Dani Carvajal (Angola) also received top votes from individual African countries.
Ademola Lookman’s place in the African votes
The question of whether African journalists should vote with objectivity or with a sense of regional loyalty is a recurring one. For Nigerian forward Ademola Lookman, the sentiment was largely supportive but measured, with 13 African countries including him in their ballots, often toward the bottom of their top 10 lists.
This subtle backing reflects an appreciation for Lookman’s achievements, while also recognizing the competitive nature of the global player pool.
Despite Lookman’s influential season highlighted by his role in Nigeria’s run to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final and his starring moments for Atalanta, most African journalists tempered their support, likely aware of the stiff competition.
Lookman’s most substantial support came from Nigeria, where he was placed at the top of the ballot, followed by Ivory Coast, which ranked him fifth. Notably, Morocco was the only north African nation to cast a vote for London-born.
Conversely, several African nations, including Algeria, Tunisia, Guinea, DR Congo, and Benin, opted not to list Lookman in their top 10, revealing a more reserved approach from regions with diverse football loyalties and differing perspectives on voting criteria.
What this means for the CAF Player of the Year award
With the CAF Awards scheduled for December 16 in Marrakech, Lookman finds himself on the shortlist for Africa’s top individual prize. His record of 33 goal involvements in the 2023/24 season and his impactful start to the current campaign position him as a front-runner.
Lookman’s success at Atalanta, coupled with his performance for the Super Eagles, could make him a popular choice among African voters. Many hope he will follow in Victor Osimhen’s footsteps and bring home the title for Nigeria once again.
The shortlist for the CAF African Player of the Year includes 10 candidates, among them Amine Gouiri (Algeria), Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso), and Achraf Hakimi (Morocco), each with strong claims of their own.
Additionally, William Troost-Ekong, Lookman’s compatriot, represents Nigeria in the CAF Player of the Year category, highlighting the depth of Nigerian talent in the continental awards.
African journalists’ preferences shown in the Ballon d'Or process offer clues on how the CAF voting might unfold.
With Lookman enjoying widespread support across sub-Saharan Africa, it is a safe bet that he will figure highly in the ballots from those regions; conversely, the paucity of support from north Africa may prove a concern, especially with the like of Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi also in CAF's shortlist.
