The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has announced the nominees for the 2024 Best FIFA Football Awards, honouring exceptional performances in men’s and women’s football over the past year. Among the nominees are three Nigerians— William Troost–Ekong, Ademola Lookman, and Asisat Oshoala—whose remarkable achievements continue to place African excellence on the global stage.
Defensive powerhouse William has been nominated for Best Defender. His formidable skill on the field places him among football’s finest, alongside Real Madrid’s Dani Carvajal and Antonio Rüdiger, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
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Ademola, who finished 14th in this year’s Ballon d’Or rankings, is in the Best Attacker category. The forward finds himself competing with an elite group of global football icons, including Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior, and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal.
In the women’s category, Asisat Oshoala continues her legacy. She’s been nominated for the newly introduced FIFA Marta Award, which celebrates the best goal in women’s football worldwide.
This recognition comes on the heels of another milestone for these Nigerian stars. Earlier this year, Ademola and William were shortlisted for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award, further solidifying their influence both in Africa and on the global stage.
Fans have a say in the 2024 FIFA Best Awards, with votes weighted equally alongside those of national team captains, coaches, and media representatives. Voting is open until 10 December 2024 on FIFA’s official website.