Hakimi makes African football history as Morocco sweeps top honors at the 2025 CAF Awards.
Achraf Hakimi made continental history Wednesday night, becoming the first defender in 52 years to win African Footballer of the Year after the Moroccan star was crowned at the 2025 CAF Awards before a jubilant home crowd at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University.
The Paris Saint-Germain right-back delivered one of the most dominant individual seasons in modern African football, collecting five major trophies, scoring in the Champions League final, and helping Morocco qualify for the 2026 World Cup. His triumph marks the nation’s first Player of the Year winner since Mustapha Hadji in 1998 and only the second defender ever to claim the award after Zaire’s Bwanga Tshimen in 1973.
“This trophy is not just for me — it is for all Africans, young Africans who aspire to be footballers,” Hakimi said as the audience roared. “I would like to thank King Mohamed for providing us with all the facilities to help us succeed.”
Hakimi edged Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen in the final ballot, completing a long pursuit after two consecutive runner-up finishes. His win capped a sweeping night for Moroccan football, which collected six major awards.
Morocco Dominates the Night
Ghizlane Chebbak became the first Moroccan woman to win African Footballer of the Year, sealing a historic double. Now with Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, Chebbak topped compatriot Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade.
“This recognition means everything,” she said. “To represent Moroccan women on this stage shows how far we’ve come.”
Yassine Bounou added Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year after another impressive season with Al-Hilal, earning recognition in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI. The award further solidified Morocco’s growing reputation for producing elite goalkeepers.
Morocco’s emergence continued through youth categories as Othmane Maamma claimed Young Player of the Year and Doha El Madani retained the women’s equivalent after standout domestic and continental campaigns.
Full List of Winners
Player of the Year (Men): Achraf Hakimi (Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain)
Player of the Year (Women): Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco/Al-Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco/Al-Hilal)
Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria/Brighton & Hove Albion)
Young Player of the Year (Men): Othmane Maamma (Morocco/Watford)
Young Player of the Year (Women): Doha El Madani (Morocco/AS FAR)
Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Fiston Mayele (DR Congo/Pyramids)
Interclub Player of the Year (Women): Shamirah Nabbadda (Uganda/She Corporate)
Coach of the Year (Men): Bubista (Cape Verde)
National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco Under-20
National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria Super Falcons
Club of the Year (Men): Pyramids FC (Egypt)
Goal of the Year: Clement Mizize (Tanzania/Young Africans)
Referee of the Year (Men): Omar Abdulkadir Artan (Somalia)
Referee of the Year (Women): Shamirah Nabbadda (Uganda)
Assistant Referee of the Year (Men): Liban Abdulrazack (Djibouti)
Assistant Referee of the Year (Women): Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)
Coaching Excellence and Emerging Talent
Cape Verde manager Bubista earned Coach of the Year after leading his nation to its first World Cup qualification — a landmark that drew one of the ceremony’s longest ovations.
“To take a small nation to the World Cup — this is not my award, this belongs to every Cape Verdean,” he said.
Young stars dominated the spotlight as Maamma was recognized for his role in Morocco’s FIFA Under-20 World Cup title, while El Madani’s goalscoring influence powered AS FAR and secured her a second straight youth crown.
Standout Performances and Expert Reaction
Hakimi’s year placed him among the world’s premier full-backs: 12 assists across all competitions, consistent defensive superiority, and a Champions League final goal that anchored PSG’s 5–0 victory over Inter Milan.
“Achraf has redefined what it means to be a modern defender,” CAF President Patrice Motsepe said while presenting the award alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “He attacks, he defends, he leads. This is the new African standard.”
Morocco coach Walid Regragui added, “He’s grown into a world-class leader. This award confirms what was already obvious.”
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie extended her dominance by securing a third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after leading the Super Falcons to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title and earning a move to Brighton.
The night’s emotional peak came when Hakimi embraced his mother on stage, dedicating the award to “all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa.”
Analysis: A Shift in the African Football Landscape
Hakimi’s victory underscores a strategic transformation in African football. For decades, attacking players shaped the conversation around the continent’s top award. A defender’s rise reflects expanding tactical sophistication and growing appreciation for all phases of the game.
Morocco’s sweep illustrates how long-term investment in infrastructure, youth academies, and professional administration continues to pay competitive dividends. Since their historic 2022 World Cup semifinal run, the country has maintained a trajectory shaped by development systems that now command global respect.
“This is not a coincidence,” Motsepe said. “This is planning, investment, and belief in African potential.”
The ceremony — featuring appearances by global football figures, cultural performances, and a celebratory closing by Awilo Longomba — reinforced Morocco’s status as one of CAF’s most reliable hosts.
As the awards concluded, attention shifted toward 2026, where Africa seeks its next landmark World Cup breakthrough. Morocco’s golden generation, led by Hakimi, now shoulders expectations to turn individual brilliance into a historic collective achievement.
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