Ghana Falls Short at 2024 CAF Awards as Ivory Coast and Nigeria Shine

The Black Stars of Ghana once again faced disappointment at the 2024 CAF Awards, as the country struggled to achieve continental recognition while its rivals, Ivory Coast and Nigeria, claimed major honors.

Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman was named the 2024 CAF Player of the Year, while Ivory Coast won the prestigious Men’s National Team of the Year award.

Ghana’s sole representation at the ceremony came through the inclusion of Mohammed Kudus in the Team of the Year, a bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming performance for the country.

Ghana had hopes for further recognition, with former Dreams FC and Barcelona B forward Aziz Issah being shortlisted for Goal of the Year.

However, Issah’s bid fell short, as his 4,512 votes saw him finish second from the bottom.

The coveted award was claimed by Angola’s Mabululu.

This year’s ceremony highlighted a sharp contrast to previous years when Ghana was a dominant force in African football.

Legendary Ghanaian player Abedi Pele, for instance, made history by winning the prestigious Men’s Player of the Year award three years in a row (1991-1993).

Yet, those glory days now seem distant, with the Black Stars continuing to face challenges on the continental stage.

Since Andre Ayew’s third-place finish in 2015, no Ghanaian player has been able to make it to the podium.

Ghana’s closest contender since 2008 was Asamoah Gyan, who finished second.

With a squad full of talented players, Ghana will be hoping that one of its key figures can return the country to prominence and challenge for the CAF Player of the Year award in the near future.