2024 CAF Player award: Lookman makes Top Five

Nigeria international and Atalanta forward, Ademola Lookman, made the final five-man shortlist for the 2024 CAF Men's Player of the Year. 

The Confederation of African Football on Monday officially unveiled the top five nominees in each of the men’s categories of the CAF Awards scheduled for next month in in Marrakech, Morocco.

However, Super Eagles captain, William Troost-Ekong, could not make the cut after he was initially shortlised among the top 10.

Lookman who finished 14th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or is favoured to win the award which is held by compatriot, Victor Osimhen.

Recall that Lookman posted an outstanding performance last season. 

He scored three goals to help Nigeria reached the final of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

The 2017 FIFA U20 World Cup winner with England made history by scoring a hat-trick in the final of the 2024 UEFA Europa League which helped his club to lift the trophy at the expense of Bayer Leverkusen last season.

A total of seven categories have been confirmed by CAF in the Men’s category of the awards, shortlisting the five top performing players, coaches and teams in each of the categories.

Other categories announced include Goalkeeper of the Year, Interclub Player of the Year, Coach of the Year, Young Player of the Year, Club of the Year, National Team of the Year.

Meanwhile, the remaining four contenders for the Men's Player of the Year award are Simon Adingra [Cote d’Ivoire/Brighton]; Serhou Guirassy [Guinea / Borussia Dortmund]; Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/PSG] and Ronwen Williams of South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 12 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Akwa United 1 Nasarawa United 0

Paul Acquah (34th min)

*Ikorodu City 2 Shooting Stars 1

Anthony Okachi -Shooting (16th min)

Shola Adelani-Ikorodu (59th min)

Rivio Ayemwenre-Ikorodu (89th min)

*Kwara United 2 Plateau United 0

Emmanuel Ogbole (67th, 78th min pen)

*Kano Pillars 2 Heartland 2

Suraju Lawal-Heartland (51st, 59th min)

Rabiu Ali -Pillars (57th min)

Ahmed Musa-Pillars (75th min)

*Sunshine Stars 1 Lobi Stars 0

Promise Awosanmi (48th min)

*El-Kanemi Warriors 1 Niger Tornadoes 0

Ibrahim Mustapha (50th min)

*Bayelsa United 1 Katsina United 1

Rabiu Abdullahi - Bayelsa Utd (73rd min)

Ahmed Abdultaofik - Katsina Utd (85th min)

*Enugu Rangers 3 Bendel Insurance 2

Godwin Obaje - Rangers (21st min)

Frank Uwumiro - Rangers (39th min)

Effimi Nsi Edim -Rangers (55th min)

Nnamdi Anthony -Insurance (66th min)

Uche Collins -Insurance (85th min)

*Abia Warriors  1 Enyimba 1

Clinton Jephta- Enyimba (9th min)

Adejoh Ojonugwa -Abia (22nd min)

*Remo Stars 0 Rivers United 0

Caption: Rangers' Godwin Obaje, he was on song during last Sunday's five-goal thriller in Enugu.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 12 FIXTURES

Sat, Nov. 16:

Akwa United vs Nasarawa United 4:00pm

Sun, Nov. 17:

El-Kanemi Warriors vs Niger Tornadoes 3:00pm

Ikorodu City vs Shooting Stars 4:00pm

Enugu Rangers vs Bendel Insurance 4:00pm

Abia Warriors  vs Enyimba 4:00pm

Bayelsa United vs Katsina United 4:00pm

Sunshine Stars  vs Lobi Stars 4:00pm

Remo Stars     vs Rivers United 4:00pm

Kwara United  vs Plateau United 4:00pm

Kano Pillars     vs Heartland  4:00pm

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 11 RESULTS, SCORERS

*Bendel Insurance 0 Kano Pillars 1

Rabiu Ali (90+7 min, pen)

*Nasarawa United 0 Kwara United 1

Emmanuel Ogbole (45+2 min)

*Lobi Stars  3 Abia Warriors 1

Sunday Megwo-Abia (56th min)

...................... (61st, 90th min)

Christian Nnaji-Lobi (79th min)

*Heartland 1 Sunshine Stars 0

Christian Molokwu (8th min)

*Katsina United 1 Ikorodu City 2

Moses Effiong-Katsina (18th min)

Solomon Alade-Ikorodu (44th min)

Emmanuel Solomon -Ikorodu (89th min)

*Rivers United 0 Bayelsa United 1

..........(7th min)

*Enyimba  0 Remo Stars 0

*Niger Tornadoes 1 Akwa United 0

Papa Daniel (48th min)

*Plateau United 0 Enugu Rangers 0

*Shooting Stars 3 El-Kanemi Warriors 0

Samuel Ayanrinde (27th min)

Abubakar Aliyu Ibrahim (38th min)

Adam Mustapha (62nd min)

Caption: Rabiu Ali, nets the winner against Bendel Insurance last weekend.

Osimhen bags brace as Galatasaray humble Tottenham in five-goal thriller

 Victor Osimhen scored twice as Galatasaray inflicted a first Europa League defeat of the season against 10-man Tottenham Hotspur in Istanbul, reports BBC Sport.

Teenage forward Will Lankshear was dismissed for two yellow cards on the hour mark for Spurs, having earlier scored his first senior goal for the club in only his second start.

However, by that stage the visitors should have been out of sight with the final scoreline barely reflective of an encounter that was dominated by the hosts.

Tottenham's woeful attempts to play out from the back and their shambolic defending ensured that they endured a trying evening in a destination that is notorious for its hostile atmosphere.

Yunus Akgun's sixth-minute effort was the precursor of what was to follow, with the Turkey midfielder dispatching a wonderful left-foot volley past Spurs goalkeeper Fraser Forster from 20 yards.

While 19-year-old Lankshear levelled from close range after being teed up by Brennan Johnson, the way in which Tottenham repeatedly gifted possession and goalscoring opportunities to their opponents will place scrutiny on manager Ange Postecoglou's decision to begin with six first-choice players on the bench.

An error from central defender Radu Dragusin contributed to Osimhen's first goal of the evening, with the on-loan Napoli forward reacting sharply to a Dries Mertens pass to poke a right-foot effort past Forster into the right corner.

Osimhen's second also came courtesy of the Belgian playmaker, with Mertens' right-wing delivery expertly turned home by the unmarked Nigerian international from eight yards.

While substitute Dominic Solanke tapped in from Pedro Porro's pass - nine minutes after Lankshear's departure - to give the score an air of respectability, in truth the visitors were well beaten.

Only some profligate finishing and several excellent saves from Forster prevented Okan Buruk's team from the emphatic victory they richly deserved.

Meanwhile, Osimhen, 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup winner, has scored six goals in his last five games for The Lions

since his loan arrival from Napoli in the summer.

NPFL 2024/25 SEASON MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES

Sat, Nov. 9:

Lobi Stars vs Abia Warriors 4:00pm

Bendel Insurance vs Kano Pillars 4:00pm

Sun, Nov 10:

Heartland vs Sunshine Stars 4:00pm

Katsina United vs Ikorodu City 4:00pm

Rivers United vs Bayelsa United 4:00pm

Enyimba       vs Remo Stars 4:00pm

Niger Tornadoes vs Akwa United 4:00pm

Plateau United vs Enugu Rangers 4:00pm

Nasarawa United vs Kwara United 4:00pm

Shooting Stars   vs El-Kanemi Warriors 5:30pm

EPL MATCHDAY 11 FIXTURES

Sat, Nov. 9:

Brentford vs Bournemouth 4:00pm

Wolves vs Southampton     4:00pm

Brighton vs Man City         4:00pm

West Ham vs Everton         4:00pm

C'Palace  vs Fulham          4:00pm

Liverpool vs Aston Villa     9:00pm

Sun, Nov. 10:

Nottm Forest vs Newcastle 3:00pm

Tottenham  vs Ipswich        3:00pm

Man Utd  vs Leicester       3:00pm

Chelsea    vs Arsenal         5:30pm