Ademola Lookman will surely win the award this year, IMO CAF only made it easier by adding Diaz into the final list. What are Diaz exploits in his national team? What did he do for them in the last AFCON? In the past, CAF could have succeeded in cheating on awards and playing favourites but with social media in today’s world it will be difficult for them to do such a thing without facing heavy criticism from the public.
I think it is a big deal that Nigerian has two nominations in the list alongside Morrocco. It goes to show that despite the challenges, our boys are working very hard and they are getting recognized for it. If you ask me, I would say that there are supposed to be three nomination or even four - Victor Osimhen and Boniface. But then it is going to raise some dusts and even if that were to happen that increases the chances of a Nigerian going home with the award. In my estimation, the award battle will be between Simon Adingra (who won AFCON with Ivory Coast) and Ademola Lookman (AFCON runner-up with Nigeria and UEFA Cup success with Atalanta). The latter has been very consistent. In fact, let me just say congratulations in advance, Lookman.
Do not also forget that Troost Ekong won the best player of the AFCON hosted in Ivory coast. Meanwhile, congratulations to both Troost Ekong and Ademola Lookman. No doubt Lookman had a fantastic season both in the Nation and in the club where he made a history in the Europa league finals against Bayern Leverkusen.
Saying about Boniface, he would have been here assuming he played the AFCON. There's no how he would be nominated when he didn't play even the group matches of AFCON.
I like it that the first consideration is now going to African players that are doing well in the national team and not those are just doing well for thier clubs and forming that they are sick when it comes to playing for the national league. The selection is accurate and for the likes of Jackson, salah, kudus and aubameyang who feels they deserve to make it to the names of those that are nominated, it should send a clear message that you have to take African football as serious as you take your club side football. You can't give in your all to your club side and fall to show your presence at the national level and expect that you will get nominated because of your club side performance. Victor Boniface is our own and we desire he gets norminated but it's still okay this way. If he steps up at the eagles in this coming AFCON then he can expect his name to get listed in the next nomination.
We need to win this men player of the year because obviously, the women player of the year is not coming to Nigeria again.