'I followed him a few years ago with Super Eagles' - Gernot Rohr backs Lookman to win African POTY

Former Nigeria manager Gernot Rohr is backing Ademola Lookman to be crowned African Footballer of the Year.

Africa's finest performers of the year will be honored at the 2024 CAF Awards, set to take place at the Palais des congrès de Marrakech Morocco, on Monday, December 16, 2024.

On Thursday, the Confederation of African Football announced that five players remain in contention for the African Footballer of the Year: Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion), Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund), Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain), Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta) and Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns).

Lookman netted a hat-trick in the Europa League final, leading Atalanta to become the only team in the 2023-20224 season to defeat German Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen, delivering a performance for the ages in European football history.

On the international stage, the Charlton Athletic academy graduate shone as the Super Eagles advanced to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final, contributing three goals and an assist, and earning a spot in the official Team of the Tournament.

Although Rohr did not work directly with Ademola Lookman, he included the Atalanta star in his provisional squad for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations before being dismissed just weeks before the tournament in Cameroon.

"He has made a lot of progress. His difficult first seasons in England and Germany are now a thing of the past. He has managed to get back up and shine," Rohr said to Foot Africa. 

"I followed him a few years ago with the Super Eagles. He went from the shadows to the light. Today, he is a complete player, as effective as an assister as he is as a scorer."

The German football tactician was in the Benin dugout as Lookman scored a brace in the Super Eagles' 3-0 victory over the Cheetahs in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier in September.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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