Following CAF awards nomination, William Troost-Ekong Super Eagles captain has expressed his gratitude following his nomination for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year.
The 30-year-old Super Eagles captain, who was named the Most Valuable Player at the recent AFCON 2023 tournament, took to social media to share his excitement about being included in the prestigious shortlist.
In his post, Troost-Ekong stated “HONOURED,” while showcasing his pride in representing Nigeria on such a prominent platform.
Recall Eagles’ captain showcased an outstanding performance during AFCON 2023, where he led the Super Eagles to a second-place finish while scoring three goals, have solidified his status as one of Africa's top defenders.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has unveiled its much-anticipated shortlist for the 2024 Men’s Player of the Year award, featuring Nigerian talents Ademola Lookman and captain of the Super Eagles William Troost-Ekong among the distinguished nominees.
However, on Thursday, CAF took to their official X (formerly Twitter) page to disclosed that reigning title holder Victor Osimhen as well as in-form striker Victor Boniface were notably absent from the final selection.
Furthermore, the ten-man shortlist includes a strong North African presence, with Morocco’s defensive powerhouses Achraf Hakimi and Sofiane Rahimi among the nominees, alongside Algeria’s Amine Gouiri.
Also featuring on the list, Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra who had a stellar club season, while DR Congo’s Chancel Mbemba and Guinea’s Serhou Guirassy have earned their places following outstanding performances throughout the year.
Finally, to complete the list are Burkina Faso’s Edmond Tapsoba, and South Africa’s Ronwen Williams, reflecting the breadth of talent across the African continent
The nominees, drawn from leading leagues in Europe and Africa, underscore the growing global influence of African football.
Nigerian striker Victor Boniface has also reacted to his omission from the 2024 CAF Player of the Year shortlist, despite a standout season in Europe.
The Bayer Leverkusen forward, who had an impressive campaign last season including winning the Bundesliga and the DFB-Pokal with Leverkusen, finishing as a Europa League silver medalist, scoring 21 goals, providing 10 assists, and playing in 34 matches, earning him the Bundesliga Rookie of the Season award and a spot in the Team of the Season.
However, Boniface took to social media on X on Thursday, saying: “Rookie of the season, Team of the season. No worries, I no play AFCON. Na why I dey wait for memes d’or.”
Meanwhile, this year's selection features a mix of seasoned football stars and rising talent, all acknowledged for their outstanding performances and consistency throughout 2024.
The CAF Awards 2024 is yet to reveal who will be taking over from Nigerian Striker, Osimhen as Africa’s top player.
On the other hand, the ceremony is aimed at honoring the best football talent from across the continent.
