Achraf Hakimi has etched his name into African football history, earning one of the most prestigious honours of his career. After enjoying a dream season at Paris Saint-Germain, the Moroccan full-back has been crowned the African Footballer of the Year, a moment that marks both personal triumph and continental significance.
The award ceremony, held last night in Rabat, saw the Confederation of African Football (CAF) announce Hakimi as the winner following a competitive vote. The 27-year-old defender beat global icons Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Nigeria’s star forward Victor Osimhen — two of the most celebrated African footballers of the era.
What makes Hakimi’s achievement truly extraordinary is its rarity. He becomes the first defender in 52 years to win the award. The last defender to receive the accolade was Zaïre’s Buanga Tshimen in 1973. Hakimi is also the first Moroccan player since Mustapha Hadji in 1998 to be named Africa’s best, sealing a landmark moment for Moroccan football.
Speaking after receiving the honour, Hakimi expressed deep gratitude and pride.
“This trophy is not only mine — it belongs to every brave man and woman in Africa who dreams of becoming a footballer,” he said.
He added, “I owe this to everyone who believed I could one day become a professional footballer. Their belief shaped my journey.”
A Season of Pure Brilliance
Hakimi was one of the central figures in PSG’s treble-winning 2024–25 campaign. His attacking prowess from the right flank has long been admired, but last season he elevated his game to new heights.
Here is a breakdown of his key stats from the campaign:
| Competition (2024–25) | Matches | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| All competitions | 48 | 9 | 12 |
His most unforgettable moment came in the UEFA Champions League final, where PSG thrashed Inter Milan 5–0. Hakimi scored the opening goal of the match, setting the tone for one of the most dominant finals in tournament history.
Such performances propelled him to sixth place in the men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, the highest position ever achieved by a Moroccan footballer. His PSG teammate, France’s Ousmane Dembélé, went on to win the Ballon d’Or itself.
Morocco’s Golden Night
Morocco’s success was not limited to Hakimi. The nation celebrated multiple wins at the awards ceremony:
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou
Women’s Player of the Year: Ghizlane Chebbak
Both footballers currently play in the Saudi Pro League and have been pivotal in representing Morocco on the world stage.
In the women’s category, Nigeria also enjoyed recognition, as Chiamaka Nnadozie, newly signed by Brighton in the English Women’s Super League, was named the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the third consecutive time.
A Landmark for Cape Verde
Cape Verde’s head coach Bubista won the Coach of the Year award after guiding the small island nation — with a population of just 525,000 — to their first-ever World Cup. His achievement stands as one of the greatest underdog stories in African football.
Hakimi’s historic victory and Morocco’s sweep of major awards mark a new era for North African football, proving once again that dedication, belief and brilliance can reshape the narrative of an entire continent.
