The race for the African Ballon d’Or 2024 is heating up with four outstanding candidates: Ayoub El Kaabi, Serhou Guirassy, Ademola Lookman, and Brahim Diaz. Each of these players has had a remarkable season, contributing significantly to their respective clubs and national teams. This article delves into their 2023/2024 season performances, including statistics, achievements, strengths, and weaknesses, to help determine who should be crowned the best African player of the year.
Ayoub El Kaabi
Club Performance Ayoub El Kaabi had a stellar season with Olympiacos in the Greek Super League and the Europa Conference League.
Super League:
- Matches Played: 31 out of 34
- Minutes Played: 1970 minutes
- Goals: 18
- Assists: 2
Europa Conference League:
- Matches Played: 9 out of 9
- Minutes Played: 810 minutes
- Goals: 14
- Assists: 2
Notable Matches:
- Europa Conference League Semi-Final: Olympiacos 2-4 Aston Villa (3 goals)
- Europa Conference League Final: Olympiacos 1-0 Fiorentina (1 goal)
National Team Performance El Kaabi’s performance with the Moroccan national team was less impressive. Morocco exited the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) early, losing in the round of 16 to South Africa, with El Kaabi failing to score in the tournament.
AFCON Qualifiers:
- Matches Played: 6 out of 6
- Minutes Played: 450 minutes
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 0
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Proven goal-scoring ability, especially in crucial matches | Underwhelming performance in international competitions with Morocco |
| Key player in leading Olympiacos to the Europa Conference League title | Limited impact in domestic league compared to his European exploits |
Serhou Guirassy
Club Performance Serhou Guirassy was a revelation in the Bundesliga with VfB Stuttgart.
Bundesliga:
- Matches Played: 32 out of 34
- Minutes Played: 2800 minutes
- Goals: 22
- Assists: 5
German Cup:
- Matches Played: 4 out of 5
- Minutes Played: 360 minutes
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 1
Notable Matches:
- Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 3-1 Borussia Mönchengladbach (2 goals)
- Bundesliga: VfB Stuttgart 3-0 Bayern Munich (1 goal)
National Team Performance With the Guinean national team, Guirassy played a pivotal role in their AFCON campaign, where they reached the quarter-finals before being knocked out by Nigeria. He scored three goals in the tournament, showcasing his importance to the team.
AFCON:
- Matches Played: 5 out of 6
- Minutes Played: 450 minutes
- Goals: 3
- Assists: 1
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Consistent goal scorer in one of Europe’s top leagues | Lack of silverware with both club and country |
| Significant contribution to Guinea’s respectable AFCON run | Occasional inconsistency in big matches |
Ademola Lookman
Club Performance Ademola Lookman had an impressive season in Serie A with Atalanta.
Serie A:
- Matches Played: 33 out of 38
- Minutes Played: 2850 minutes
- Goals: 16
- Assists: 7
Coppa Italia:
- Matches Played: 4 out of 5
- Minutes Played: 320 minutes
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 1
Notable Matches:
- Serie A: Atalanta 3-2 Napoli (1 goal, 1 assist)
- Serie A: Atalanta 4-1 Roma (2 goals)
National Team Performance Lookman also performed well for the Nigerian national team, contributing 4 goals in the AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria reached the semi-finals of the AFCON before losing to Senegal, with Lookman playing a crucial role in their journey.
AFCON Qualifiers:
- Matches Played: 6 out of 6
- Minutes Played: 540 minutes
- Goals: 4
- Assists: 2
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| High goal involvement with both goals and assists | Inconsistent performances in the latter stages of competitions |
| Versatile attacking abilities, able to play multiple forward positions | Needs to improve defensive contributions |
Brahim Diaz
Club Performance Brahim Diaz shone brightly at Real Madrid.
La Liga:
- Matches Played: 34 out of 38
- Minutes Played: 3060 minutes
- Goals: 10
- Assists: 12
UEFA Champions League:
- Matches Played: 11 out of 12
- Minutes Played: 990 minutes
- Goals: 4
- Assists: 5
Notable Matches:
- La Liga: Real Madrid 3-2 Barcelona (1 goal, 1 assist)
- Champions League: Real Madrid 2-2 Manchester City (1 goal, 1 assist)
National Team Performance Diaz’s contributions to the Moroccan national team were significant during the AFCON qualifiers, helping them qualify comfortably for the tournament. However, his impact during the tournament itself was limited due to an injury that kept him out of several matches.
AFCON Qualifiers:
- Matches Played: 5 out of 6
- Minutes Played: 450 minutes
- Goals: 2
- Assists: 3
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Exceptional playmaking abilities and vision | Injury-prone, missing critical matches |
| Strong performances in European competitions | Lower goal-scoring numbers compared to competitors |
Conclusion
The decision on who should win the African Ballon d’Or 2024 is a tough one, with each candidate bringing unique strengths and making significant contributions to their teams. Ayoub El Kaabi’s record-breaking performances in Europe, Serhou Guirassy’s consistency in the Bundesliga, Ademola Lookman’s versatility in Serie A, and Brahim Diaz’s playmaking prowess at Real Madrid all make them worthy contenders. The ultimate choice will depend on weighing their club and national team performances, along with their overall impact on the pitch.
Morocco Ref 