Benin head coach Gernot Rohr has confidently thrown his weight behind Nigeria forward Ademola Lookman, suggesting the Atalanta star is the frontrunner to claim the prestigious CAF Player of the Year award.
Rohr's comments come ahead of the upcoming announcement, where the Atalanta man will compete with other African football stars, including Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy, South Africa’s Ronwen Williams and Nigeria's own William Troost-Ekong.
Yet, Rohr’s endorsement places Lookman as the player to watch, particularly after an outstanding year that saw him play a vital role in Nigeria’s silver medal finish at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) and Atalanta’s Europa League triumph.
Gernot Rohr praises Lookman’s exceptional talent
Rohr, who once managed several of Nigeria’s top players, reflected on Lookman’s consistent excellence and labelled him the best African player in the running for the award.
The German coach also recalled the forward's contribution to Nigeria’s dominant performance, including a memorable two-goal display in their 3-0 win over Benin in the AFCON qualifiers.
However, Rohr did not shy away from a bit of playful rivalry, declaring that he hopes Lookman doesn’t repeat his stellar performance against Benin in the upcoming match.
“For me, Lookman is the best one in Africa to win the golden award for the footballer of the year; he is a fantastic player. But I hope he will not score against us (on Thursday) like he did in the last game in Uyo.”
Rohr’s team is set to face Nigeria once more, with a spot in the 2025 AFCON tournament at stake for the Super Eagles.
As Rohr prepares for another fierce contest, the question remains: will Lookman’s brilliance lead him to the continental football crown this year?
