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Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

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Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

Full List: Lookman, Ekong nominated for 2024 CAF men’s footballer of the year award

 

Ademola Lookman and William Troost Ekong have been nominated for the 2024 Confederation of African Football (CAF) men’s player of the year award.

The duo will battle Achraf Hakimi of Morocco, Simon Adingra of Cote d’Ivoire, and Serhou Guirassy of Guinea for the most coveted individual prize for male footballers on the continent.

 

Lookman was the standout performer in Atalanta’s UEFA Europa League triumph last season, netting a hat-trick in the final against Bayer Leverkusen.

 

The 27-year-old winger also made an impact for Nigeria, scoring three goals in seven appearances at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

At the 2023 AFCON, Troost-Ekong was named the tournament’s best player, scoring three goals and leading Nigeria to a second-place finish.

The CAF Awards ceremony will take place in Marrakech, Morocco, on December 16.

 

 

FULL LIST OF NOMINATIONS FOR 2024 CAF AWARD

Men’s national team of the year

  • Angola
  • Burkina Faso
  • Ivory Coast
  • DR Congo
  • Morocco
  • Mozambique
  • Nigeria
  • South Africa
  • Sudan
  • Uganda
  • Men’s Young Player of the Year
  • Carlos Baleba
  • Karim Konaté
  • Oumar Diakite
  • Yankuba Minteh
  • Abdul Aziz Issah
  • Bilal El Khannouss
  • Eliesse Ben Seghir
  • El Hadji Malick Diouf
  • Lamine Camara
  • Amanallah Memmiche

Men’s Interclub Player of the Year

  • Oussama Benbot
  • Issoufou Dayo
  • Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’
  • Hussein El Shahat
  • Mostafa Shobeir
  • Abdul Aziz Issah
  • John Antwi
  • Amanallah Memmiche
  • Yassine Meriah
  • Ronwen Williams

Men’s Player of the Year

  • Ademola Lookman
  • Amine Gouiri
  • Achraf Hakimi
  • Chancel Mbemba
  • Ronwen Williams
  • Sehoru Guirassy
  • Simon Adingra
  • Soufinane Rahimi
  • William Troost-Ekoong

Men’s Club of the Year

 

  • Petro Luanda
  • TP Mazembe
  • Al Ahly
  • Zamalek
  • Dreams FC
  • RS Berkane
  • Mamelodi Sundowns
  • Simba SC
  • Yanga
  • Esperance de Tunis

Coach of the Year

  • Pedro Gonçalves (Angola)
  • Brahima Traore (Burkina Faso)
  • Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire)
  • José Gomes (Zamalek)
  • Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)
  • Chiquinho (Mozambique)
  • Hugo Broos (South Africa)
  • Florent Ibenge (Al Hilal)
  • Kwesi Appiah (Sudan)

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Media Personality, J J Jabulani and siblings to celebrate mummy at 90

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Media Personality, J J Jabulani and siblings to celebrate mummy at 90

 

Media guru and highly respected on air personality, Jọlaoluwa Afọlabi famously known as J.J Jabulani is holding an elaborate 90th years birthday bash for his mummy, Mama Maria Ibipeju Afọlabi.

The birthday bash is holding on Friday, 25th April, 2025 at No 1 Ebute Road, Unity hall, opposite Indomie house, Lau junction, Ibafo, Ogun state. Many eminent personalities and media guys are expected to grace the epoch-making event.

Mama Ibipeju is a big business woman that trades on kolanut and gold in the 80s, she’s married to the popular pastor of the C&S church world wide Most Senior Apostle Samson Ọlayiwola Afọlabi of the revered Odofin compound in IREE town,Boripe local government of Osun state .

Mama is blessed with so many children among them is the ace broadcaster and media owner , Afolabi Jolaoluwa jabulani who is the last born of the nonagenarian.

Mama has great love and passion for gospel music spurred her interest in the usage of ‘SHEKERE’ in praising God till this moment and this singular act earned her the nick name (Iya Sekere)

Media Personality, J J Jabulani and siblings to celebrate mummy at 90

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Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

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Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

Nanakeme Precious Poweidou Begins European Journey with Bosnia’s Zvijezda Gradacac

 

Rising Nigerian football talent Nanakeme Precious Poweidou has officially signed with Zvijezda Gradacac, a professional football club in Bosnia and Herzegovina, marking a significant step in what he calls “a journey, not a hundred-meter race.”

 

The promising player expressed his excitement and gratitude following the signing, saying, “It is not a hundred-meter race, but a journey… I’m looking forward to a great career by God’s grace.”

 

The move to Zvijezda Gradacac marks Poweidou’s first professional contract in Europe, a milestone that signals both the beginning of his international career and the realization of years of dedication, discipline, and hard work on the pitch.

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From Dumbbells to DMs: Nigerian Gyms Evolve into Social Hotspots

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The Gym Love Triangle: Fitness, Fashion, and Flirtation in Lagos

 

In the age of fitness influencers, athleisure fashion, and Instagram-worthy workouts, Nigeria’s gym culture is booming. But beneath the sculpted abs and protein shakes lies a more complicated narrative: the gym as a new social playground—and sometimes, a romantic battleground.

From Ikeja to Festac and down to the bustling gyms in Ajah, what was once a space solely for sweat and stamina has evolved into something of a social experiment.

“People are using gyms to hook up,” says Folarin Adekoya, a regular gym-goer in Ikeja. “Some women come in wearing provocative outfits, and it’s not just distracting—it raises questions about their intentions.”

While the body goals are still a priority for many, others are raising eyebrows—and smartphones—as selfies, flirtation, and full-blown relationships begin to rival reps and routines.

“I Came to Lift, Not to Love”

Jason Onwuka, who trains regularly in Festac, says he’s seen it all.

“You have people who are here more for the vibe than the workouts. They spend more time talking and laughing than lifting weights,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He admits, however, that as society grows more individualistic, gyms have emerged as safe, neutral grounds for forming new connections.

“People are lonely. The gym is now a space to find friends, romance, and a sense of belonging,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it’s on you to stay focused.”

“Indecent Dressing Could Get Girls Banned” – Teddy A Warns

The debate recently went viral when Teddy A, a former Big Brother Naija star, posted a video lamenting what he called “indecent dressing at the gym.”

“We don’t want them to start banning girls from gyms because of indecent dressing,” he said in a video that triggered a flurry of reactions online.

While some praised his candour, others blasted his remarks as misogynistic and controlling, igniting fresh debates over dress codes, freedom of expression, and the sexual politics of the gym floor.

Fitness Centre Managers Respond

A gym manager in Ajah, who requested anonymity, told NAN that they’ve had to lay down the law to maintain order and respect.

“We’ve introduced dress guidelines and behaviour protocols. Still, people come to mingle, and as long as no one’s workout is disrupted, we don’t interfere,” he said.

He admitted that while some gym-goers blur the lines, many—especially professional women—come solely for fitness.

“They wear functional gear. Not everyone’s here for attention,” he added.

A Culture in Transition

As Nigeria’s middle class expands and wellness trends grow, gyms are no longer just places to burn calories—they’re becoming microcosms of urban life, where health, identity, and social dynamics all intersect.

But the question remains: Are gyms still sacred spaces for self-improvement—or just another scene for subtle seduction?

For now, the battle between body goals and “boo goals” continues to play out between the dumbbells and the dance bikes, one rep—and one DM—at a time.

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