'I fully support him to win' - Ghana legend endorses Ademola Lookman as Africa's best

Former Ghanaian international Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu has expressed his support for Ademola Lookman to win the African Player of the Year award.

The former Ghana midfielder was particularly impressed with Lookman's performances for both club and country.

"Without a doubt, one of my favourite players, Lookman, has been outstanding for both his club and country. I fully support him to win the award," Agyemang-Badu told Flashscore.

While disappointed that Mohammed Kudus was not included in the 10-man shortlist, Agyemang-Badu acknowledged the strong competition and the potential for Kudus to shine in future years.

"He's still young and has plenty of opportunities to be crowned Africa's best. He just needs to stay focused, keep learning, and continue growing. His time will come - it’s a marathon, not a sprint," he added.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles forward Lookman was nominated in the top 10 alongside captain Trost Ekong for the CAF award. However, the Atlanta man is the only African player on the final 30-man shortlist for the Ballon d'Or award.

His hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen and his contributions to Nigeria's AFCON campaign cemented his status as one of Africa's top talents.

Lookman is now a strong favourite for the CAF African Footballer of the Year award in December after finishing 14th in the Ballon d'Or award.