Emmanuel Adebayor Snubs Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Picks 2024 CAF Footballer of the Year

• The 2024 African Footballer of the Year will be difficult to call, with several players having a good chance to win it
• Victor Boniface, Serhou Guirassy, and Ademola Lookman are the leading contenders for the award set to be handed out later this year
• Victo Osimhem won the award last year, but he had a difficult season with Napoli, and his numbers dipped significantly

African footballers made their mark across the big leagues in Europe.

Victor Osimhen deservedly won last year’s African Footballer of the Year award but will likely not be a contender this year.

Former Arsenal and Togo striker, Emmanuel Adebayor, has given his thoughts on who should win it this year.

There were several standout performers in Europe last season.

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Bayer Leverkusen and Nigeria striker, Victor Boniface, was one of the best African players last season. He scored 21 goals and provided 11 assists in 34 matches as Leverkusen won the Bundesliga for the first time.

His Super Eagles teammate, Lookman, bagged a hat-trick in the Europa League final to secure an elusive silverware for Atalanta. He also did well at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Serhou Guirassy was incredible in the Bundesliga. The 28-year-old bagged 28 league goals to help Stuttgart finish second in the German top flight.

Osimhen had a tough season at Napoli. The 2023 Serie A top scorer managed 17 goals, a significant dip from last season’s 31.

Boniface, Lookman, and Guirassy are considered front runners for the award. Who will win it later this year?

Adebayor makes his CAF POTY pick

Speaking to Afrik-Foot, Adebayor, the 2008 CAF African Footballer of the Year, backed Guirassy to win the award ahead of Lookman and Boniface.

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“Of course [he deserves to win],” Adebayor said. “He had an extraordinary season with Stuttgart, he is a striker who scored a lot.”

“He will be one of the contenders, that’s for sure, especially since Salah has not scored as much, Victor Osimhen did not have the same season as the year of the title. It’s open this year. If it’s Guirassy, it will be deserved.”

Only Harry Kane (36) scored more Bundesliga goals last season than the Guinean striker.

Guirassy and Boniface in Bundesliga TOTS

Sports Brief earlier reported that Boniface and Guirassy had made the 2023/24 Bundesliga Team of the Season.

Xabi Alonso’s side dominated the team with six players, followed by Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart, each with two players.