Nigerian football witnessed many high and low moments during the 2024 calendar football yearThe lowest moment was losing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final 2-1 to the host country, Ivory CoastAdemola Lookman winning the 2024 CAF Men’s Player of the Year Award was indeed a high moment
2024 has been a year of highs and lows, possibly in equal proportion for Nigerian football, with six days left to go in the year, and we look forward to 2025.
The lowest point in the year was losing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals to the host country Ivory Coast, on February 11, 2024, despite going ahead in the first half.
Ademola Lookman poses with his award after winning the CAF Men’s Player of the Year. Photo from @CAF_Online.
Source: Twitter
Lookman’s CAF Men’s Player of the Year triumph definitely ranks as the best moment in the country’s football after he was crowned the winner of the prestigious award.
Henzodaily.ng looks at the top six Nigerian football moments in 2024.
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Top Nigerian football moments in 2024
1. AFCON 2023 final loss
Jose Peseiro guided Nigeria to the final of AFCON 2023 with a disciplined defensive structure, which minimised the goals conceded. However, the players, some of whom were carrying injuries, appeared tired in the final, allowing Ivory Coast to come from a goal down and win their third title.
2. Boniface wins Bundesliga title
Victor Boniface joined Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 and helped the club win their first-ever German Bundesliga title. The team also won the DFB Pokal and Super Cup, all unbeaten, with their only loss coming in the UEFA Europa League final against Ademola Lookman’s hat-trick.
3. Victor Osimhen fires Finidi George
Former Super Eagles legend Finidi George was in charge of the national team for four games after the departure of Peseiro. He resigned after that loss to Benin Republic in June. Victor Osimhen responded to a fake blog post and insulted the head coach, and till today, he has not apologised for the incident.
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4. Victor Osimhen’s transfer saga
Osimhen decided he would leave Napoli at the end of the 2023/24 season, but it was a difficult summer as negotiations dragged through the window. As noted by Sky Italia, he failed to secure a permanent move, and Napoli froze him out of the squad after claims he said he would never play for Napoli again. He joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan afterwards.
5. Bruno Labbadia’s failed appointment
The Nigerian Football Federation announced Bruno Labbadia as the new Super Eagles boss ahead of the September international break. The agreement collapsed due to stringent German tax laws, but according to Bild, Labbadia denied the NFF’s account. Augustine Eguavoen has remained interim manager since then.
6. Libyan airport hostage ordeal
The Super Eagles of Nigeria beat Libya 1-0 on matchday three of AFCON 2025 qualifier in Uyo. The team were in Libya for the second leg and were held hostage for 16 hours at Al-Abraq after their plane was redirected from Benghazi. CAF investigated the incident, awarded Nigeria three points and three goals and fined the Libyan federation USD 50,000.
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7. Lookman wins CAF POTY
Nigerian football left the best for last. Ademola Lookman was named African Footballer of the Year at the 2024 CAF Awards at Palais des Congrès in Marrakech, Morocco. The attacker had a brilliant year for Atalanta and the Super Eagles.
Labbadia back on NFF’s radar
Henzodaily.ng reported that Bruno Labbadia is back on NFF’s radar as they continue searching for a permanent Super Eagles manager before international football resumes in 2025.
The federation have reportedly secured an agreement with sponsors to fund the manager’s salary, and the former Bayer Leverkusen boss is top of the list to lead the team.
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Source: Henzodaily.ng