Achraf Hakimi, who produced one of the greatest seasons ever by an African defender, was named Player of the Year at the CAF Awards ceremony held on November 19 in Rabat, Morocco, where the continent’s top football talents were celebrated and honored for their remarkable achievements. He succeeds Nigerian Ademola Lookman.
Achraf Hakimi was instrumental in PSG’s UEFA Champions League victory. He won everything in 2025, securing Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, the Trophée des Champions, and the UEFA Super Cup. Only the FIFA Club World Cup eluded him. His personal statistics spoke for themselves: 11 goals, 17 assists in 55 matches, and a place in the Top Ten of the coveted Ballon d’Or. His influence on the Atlas Lions’ performances is remarkable, with Morocco securing qualification for the 2026 World Cup. He joins Mustapha Hadji, the last Moroccan to be crowned in 1998. Hakimi thus becomes the first defender to win this title since Bwanga Tshimen (DR Congo, 1973).
Yassine Bounou, his national team teammate, is the best African goalkeeper. Othmane Maamma, the star of Morocco’s U-20 World Cup-winning team, claimed the Best Young Player award. Morocco’s U-20 national team, winners of the U-20 World Cup, is the Best National Team of the Year. Egypt’s Pyramids FC, winners of the CAF Champions League, is the Club of the Year. Their striker Fiston Mayele received the Interclub Player of the Year award. Tanzanian Clément Mzize won the Goal of the Year trophy. Cape Verde’s manager Bubista was named Coach of the Year (Men).
On the women’s side, Moroccan Ghizlaine Chebbak was voted Player of the Year, finishing as top scorer in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Morocco finished second behind Nigeria. Doha Madani of AS Far was named Best Young Player. The Nigeria women’s national team is the Best National Team. Nigerian Chiamaka Nnadozie is the Best Goalkeeper of the Year. The Coach of the Year (Women) award will be presented after the 2025 CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.