Nigerian football stars Ademola Lookman and William Troost-Ekong have secured prestigious nominations for the 2024 Best FIFA Men’s 11.
Lookman, who was ranked 14th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or ceremony, has been selected in the attacker’s category, competing alongside an illustrious group of international footballing talents.
His nomination includes Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry Kane, Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, and global superstars Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé, among others.
Troost-Ekong has been nominated in the defender’s category, showcasing his defensive prowess alongside Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba.
The 27-year-old defender is competing against renowned defenders such as Dani Carvajal, Antonio Rüdiger, Achraf Hakimi, Manuel Akanji, and Jonathan Tah.
The nomination comes on the heels of Lookman’s remarkable year, during which he has been turning heads with spectacular performances for both club and country.
He was recently nominated for the Globe Soccer Awards and is considered a strong contender for the African Player of the Year Award.
FIFA has opened voting on its official website, implementing an equally weighted voting system that includes fans, national team captains, coaches, and media representatives.
The winners will be announced in the coming weeks, celebrating exceptional talent, dedication, and excellence in football.
Beyond Lookman and Troost-Ekong, the 2024 FIFA Best Awards showcase other African talents.
Notably, Asisat Oshoala has been nominated for the prestigious Marta Award, recognized for her breathtaking acrobatic strike for Barcelona Femeni against Benfica in the Women’s Champions League.
Only two African women footballers have made the cut in the main categories: Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga from Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais, and Zambia’s Barbra Banda from Orlando Pride. Both are contenders for the African Women’s Footballer of the Year award, set to be presented in December in Morocco.
Algeria’s Yassine Benzia has also received recognition, being nominated for the Puskas Award for an exceptional goal against South Africa.
The nominations span various categories, including The Best FIFA Men’s Player, Women’s Player, Coaches, and Goalkeepers.
