The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has backed Atalanta's Ademola Lookman and Paris Saint-Germain's Chiamaka Nnadozie for the 2024 CAF Footballer of the Year awards.

The duo are in the running in the men’s and women’s categories at the award gala, which will be held later today (Monday, December 16).

Lookman faces stiff competition from Ivory Coast’s Simon Adingra, PSG’s Achraf Hakimi, Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy, and South Africa goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

In a statement, the NFF wrote, "All things being equal, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman should be crowned the African Player of The Year at Monday evening’s 2024 CAF Awards at the Palais des Congrès in the Moroccan city of Marrakech.

"None of the four other final nominees comes close. Ivorian Simon Adingra, whose remarkable second-half performance saw the Elephants overcome Nigeria in the AFCON Final in Abidjan on February 11, cannot point to such a glittering record with English Premier League club, Brighton.”

Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie is also in competition with Morocco’s Sanaa Mssoudy and Zambia’s Babra Banda.

"In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie is a worthy contender for the Player of The Year (won for the sixth time last year by compatriot Asisat Oshoala), and the gong will cap a remarkable year for the soft-spoken safe hands who helped Nigeria re-appear at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years, was key to the Falcons’ qualification for next year’s AFCON and drew rave reviews all around with French club, Paris FC,” the statement added.

Nigeria's Ademola Lookman and Asisat Oshoala won the two awards last season. It will be the third time in history Nigeria will pull off this remarkable feat should Lookman and Nnadozie emerge as winners tonight.