By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Ronwen Williams walked away with two massive crowns in the 2024 Caf Awards Gala held in Morocco on Monday night.
Sundowns keeper was crowned Goalkeeper of the Year, also scooped up the Interclub Player of the Year for his standout performance for the club.
Williams beat Ahmed Zizo of Zamalek and Hussein El Shahat of Al Ahly and for goalkeeper of the year category he was chosen ahead of Andre Onana of Cameroon and Yahia Fofana of Ivory Coast.
Williams saved four penalties in the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) last 8 match against Cape Verde and kept five clean sheets in the tournament.
The Sundowns goalkeeper was also this year in the running for the Yashin Trophy, becoming the first South African player to be nominated for a Ballon d’Or award.
He helped Sundowns win the Betway Premiership for the seventh successive season, while setting a record low of 11 goals conceded in 30 matches and he also helped to qualify for the 2025 Afcon to be held in Morocco.
Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman has been crowned the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.
Lookman is the second consecutive Nigerian to claim the award after Victor Osimhen in 2023. He was hot favourite to pick up the award for the first time in his career after an impressive 2023-24 season.
“Four years ago, I fell in front of the world and fast forward, four years later, I’m the best player in Africa,” Lookman said upon receiving the award. “I want to say to the young children and people watching this, don’t let your failures weigh you down, but turn your pain into power and continue to fly. God bless.”
Meanwhile, Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana missed out on the National teams of the Year, with Ivory Coast and Nigeria walking away with those prizes.
In the Club of the Year category, Al Ahly won the men’s category, while TP Mazembe won the women’s category.
All CAF awards winners:
Men’s Player of the Year: Ademola Lookman (Nigeria/Atalanta)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Ronwen Williams (South Africa/Mamelodi Sundowns)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Lamine Camara (Senegal/AS Monaco)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Emerse Faé (Côte d’Ivoire)
Men’s National Team of the Year: Ivory Coast
Men’s Club of the Year: Al Ahly (Egypt)
Women’s Player of the Year : Barbra Banda (Zambia)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Paris FC)
Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Sanaa Masoudy (Morocco/ASFAR)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco/ASFAR)
Women’s Coach of the Year: Lamia Boumehdi (Morocco/TP Mazembe).