Former Nigerian national team player Victor Ikpeba, who previously played for European powerhouses such as Monaco, Dortmund, and Real Betis, criticized Moroccan football fans.
The CAF Player of the Year award ceremony held in Marrakech, Morocco, saw Ademola Lookman emerge as the winner thanks to his outstanding performances. However, some Moroccan fans left the venue following the announcement.
Reacting to the incident, Victor Ikpeba made a strong statement, calling for such events to no longer be held in Morocco. Ademola Lookman secured the award by surpassing players like Serhou Guirassy and Ronwen Williams. One of his competitors was Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi.
Victor Ikpeba described the action of Moroccan fans leaving the venue after Lookman’s win as disrespectful:
“They shouldn’t take the event to Morocco again. It’s not fair. We’ve seen awards like the Ballon d’Or and others, and it’s not like this. Someone has to always win,” he said.
Ikpeba also commended the voters for their integrity and fairness in selecting Lookman as the winner:
“Those who voted for Lookman did it with class and were very honest in their selection process,” he added.