As the sun sets on another thrilling year of football, two African stars continue to illuminate the European game with their extraordinary talent and tireless dedication. Ademola Lookman, the newly crowned African Footballer of the Year, and Mohamed Salah, the Egyptian king who needs no introduction, are setting the bar higher and higher for the next generation of African footballers.
Lookman’s Atalanta Fairytale
Ademola Lookman’s meteoric rise has been nothing short of a fairytale. The 27-year-old Nigerian forward has found a new lease on life at Atalanta, spearheading their unlikely charge to the top of Serie A. With nine goals in his last 11 matches, including the winner against Empoli this weekend, Lookman is proving that his African Footballer of the Year award was no fluke.
What makes Lookman’s achievements all the more remarkable is the way he has transformed his game. Once seen as a tricky winger with an inconsistent end product, he has morphed into a ruthless poacher, always in the right place at the right time. His intelligent movement, quick thinking, and clinical finishing have made him a defender’s nightmare.
Unstoppable Force
Lookman’s goals have propelled Atalanta to the summit of Serie A, a position they have never occupied this late in a season. La Dea are on an 11-game winning streak, with their Nigerian talisman leading the charge. If he can maintain this form, Lookman may not only inspire Atalanta to an historic Scudetto, but also etch his name alongside the likes of George Weah and Samuel Eto’o in the African football pantheon.
Salah’s Enduring Brilliance
While Lookman’s star is undoubtedly on the rise, it would be foolish to overlook the enduring brilliance of Mohamed Salah. The ‘Egyptian King’ reminded the world of his regal status with a masterclass performance in Liverpool’s 6-3 demolition of Tottenham. Salah had a hand in four goals, scoring twice and providing two assists, to take his tally to 15 goals and 11 assists in just 16 Premier League games this season.
Salah is comfortably the Premier League’s outstanding player so far this term, and could yet match his achievement of simultaneously topping the league’s goals and assists charts come the season’s end.
At 32 years of age, Salah shows no signs of slowing down. His movement remains as sharp as ever, his finishing as clinical, and his ability to create for others undiminished. He is already seventh in the Premier League’s all-time goalscoring charts, and has equalled David Beckham’s assist record. Thierry Henry’s record is firmly in his sights.
The Ghost of Christmas Future
As the January transfer window looms, Liverpool fans will be hoping that Salah’s contract situation is resolved. The prospect of losing him on a free transfer next summer is a chilling one, a ghost of Christmas future that no Red wants to contemplate. If he does depart, it would be a fitting end to a legendary Anfield career – but one that would leave a gaping hole in Jurgen Klopp’s attack.
Africa’s Shining Light
Whichever star shines brightest in the months ahead, one thing is certain: African football has never been in a better place. From Lookman’s emergence to Salah’s enduring excellence, from Victor Boniface’s Bundesliga heroics to the exploits of Ivorian youngster Jean-Laurent Mignot at Lyon, the conveyor belt of talent shows no signs of slowing.
As we enter a new year, a new dawn for the African game, we can look forward to more trailblazing feats from this golden generation. The world is sitting up and taking notice – and rightly so. African football’s time has come.
