Super Eagles and Atalanta of Italy forward, Ademola Lookman, is the only male African player to make it to the 30-man list of the 2024 FIFA Ballon D’or nominees.

The Nigerian international will have to compete with a strong array of stars dominated by players from Manchester City and Arsenal with a combined eight players nominated, as well as players from Barcelona, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich and other top European clubs.

Lookman’s nomination came on the back of a superb season where he led his modest Serie A side to defeat Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League final where he scored a hat-trick to lift the trophy and inflict the German club’s only defeat of the season in the process.

The 26-year-old scored three goals and was one of Nigeria’s best players as the Super Eagles made the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations earlier this year before losing 2-1 to hosts Ivory Coast.

He also scored 11 goals to help his Italian club side Atalanta finish fourth in Serie A, earning a place in this season’s Uefa Champions League.

On the female side, Africa is represented by Zambian national team captain, Barbra Banda and Malawi’s Tabitha Chawinga in the women’s shortlist.

24-year-old Banda remains one of the highest-profile players in the women’s game, becoming the second-most expensive player in history when she joined National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) side Orlando Pride in March, and has scored 12 goals in 14 league appearances and continued her goalscoring exploits at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

She scored her third hat-trick at the Games in the 6-5 defeat by Australia and ended the tournament with four goals in total.

Chawinga who played for PSG ladies scored 18 goals in 19 league outings last season and has since joined fellow French club Lyon.

A Ugandan marathon runner, Rebecca Cheptegei, who was set on fire by her boyfriend on Sunday following a disagreement, has died while receiving treatment at the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in the Kenyan city of Eldoret.

Cheptegei, who lived in the western Trans-Nzoia County in Kenya, and competed for Uganda in the Discovery 10km Road Race and finished in the 44th position in the 2024 Paris Olympics, was reportedly attacked in her house in by her boyfriend identified as Dickson Ndiema who doused her with fuel and set her on fire.

According to police reports, the 33-year-old Cheptegei was left fighting for her life in the hospital for burns on 75 per cent of her body following the disagreement with her boyfriend at her house.

Trans Nzoia County Police Commander, Jeremiah ole Kosiom, said that Cheptegei’s boyfriend bought a jerry can of petrol, poured it on her and set her ablaze.

“Ndiema also sustained burn wounds, although they are less severe, and is receiving treatment at the same hospital,” the police Commander said.

“Cheptegei’s parents said their daughter bought land in Trans Nzoia to be near the many athletic training centres in the county,” he added.

The head of the Uganda’s Olympics Committee, Donald Rukare, who confirmed Cheptegei death on Thursday in a post on X, wrote:

“We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our athlete, Rebecca Cheptegei early this morning who tragically fell victim to domestic violence following a vicious attack by her boyfriend.

“As a federation, we condemn such acts and call for justice.May her gentle soul rest in peace and we strongly condemn violence against women. This was a cowardly and senseless act that has led to the loss of a great athlete. Her legacy will continue to endure.”