By Kayode John
The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has nominated Super Eagles stars Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman for the best footballer award in the world in 2024.
Osimhen and Lookman will battle Erling Haaland, Vinicius Junior, Harry Kane, Rodri and 24 others for the award. The Nigerian duo are the only two Africans on the list of 30 players released on Tuesday.
Lookman has had an incredible year for both club and country. He scored 17 goals for Atalanta last season, including a hat-trick in the 3-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the final of the 2024 UEFA Europa League, to help his Italian club to their first-ever European title.
The 27-year-old was one of the shinning stars at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Cote d’Ivoire, where the Super Eagles reached the final of the competiton.
Lookman scored three goals and registered one assist in seven matches, and was named in the tournament’s Best XI by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
He has been shortlisted for the 2024 Ballon d’Or Award and is also a major contender for the 2024 African Player of the Year award.
Though Osimhen had a stop-start campaign at Napoli last season due to injuries, he managed to score 15 goals in the club’s disastrous defence of their league title.
The 25-year-old also played a key role as the Super Eagles reached the final of the 2023 AFCON.
Osimhen secured a loan move to Galatasaray from Napoli last summer and has announced himself in the Turkish Super Lig, with three goals and four assists in five matches for the Turkish champions.
The winner of the 2024 IFFHS Award, which will be announced on January 1, 2025, will succeed Manchester City star, Haaland.
The winner will be determined through votes by sports journalists and experts from 120 countries.
Full list of nominees:
Lautaro Martínez (Argentina, Inter)
Erling Haaland (Norway, Manchester City)
Martin Odegaard (Norway, Arsenal)
Akram Afif (Qatar, Al Sadd)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria, Atalanta)
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria, Galatasaray Naples)
Alphonso Davies (Canada, Bayern Munich)
Cody Gakpo (Netherlands, Liverpool)
Kylian Mbappé (France, Real Madrid/PSG)
William Saliba (France, Arsenal)
Jude Bellingham (England, Real Madrid)
Bukayo Saka (England, Arsenal)
Phil Foden (England, Manchester City)
Cole Palmer (England, Chelsea)
Declan Rice (England, Arsenal)
Harry Kane (England, Bayern Munich)
Jamal Musiala (Germany, Bayern Munich)
Florian Wirtz (Germany, Bayer Leverkusen)
Toni Kroos (Germany, Real Madrid/retirement)
Rodri (Spain, Manchester City)
Lamine Yamal (Spain, Barcelona)
Nico Williams (Spain, Athletic Club)
Dani Carvajal (Spain, Real Madrid)
Dani Olmo (Spain, Leipzig/Barcelona)
Fabián Ruiz (Spain, PSG)
Rúben Dias (Portugal, Manchester City)
Federico Valverde (Uruguay, Real Madrid)
Vinicius Júnior (Brazil, Real Madrid)
Rodrygo Goes (Brazil, Real Madrid)
James Rodríguez (Colombia, Rayo Vallecano)
