CAF Awards: Morrocans Lament Lookman’s Victory Over Hakimi

The unveiling of Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman as the African Footballer of the year at the 2024 CAF Awards in Marrakech, Nigerian ahead of Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi was received as a slap by Moroccans present at the venue.

The announcement sparked significant anger among Moroccan fans, who had hoped Hakimi would win, especially with the event held in Morocco.

When Lookman’s name was announced, many attendees inside the Conference Palace voiced their dissatisfaction by chanting Hakimi’s name. Reports also noted that some fans protested outside the venue, accusing the Confederation of African Football (CAF) of favoritism. In response to the unrest, security was heightened, and CAF President Patrice Motsepe reportedly exited the venue through a back door to avoid the agitated crowd.

Sports analyst Mohamed El Hajoui criticized the decision, questioning CAF’s criteria for selecting the winner. He stated, “If we compare this to last year, even Bounou had an award for the same European competition and made a bigger impact at the national level, contributing to the first-ever African team reaching the World Cup semi-finals.”

Despite the controversy, Lookman’s victory marked a significant achievement for Nigerian football. It continued Nigeria’s success at the CAF Awards, following Victor Osimhen’s win in 2023. Lookman’s stellar performances for Atalanta and the Nigerian national team played a key role, including leading Nigeria to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final and helping Atalanta secure their first European trophy.

Lookman’s father expressed pride in his son’s accomplishment and thanked supporters for their encouragement.

Meanwhile, Moroccan fans took to social media to voice their disappointment with CAF’s decision, though they remained proud of Hakimi’s achievements for both his club and country.

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