Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the 2025 African Footballer of the Year after a stunning season for club and country, giving Morocco a dream night on home turf at the CAF Awards in Rabat. The PSG star beat Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to the top prize, finally ending his wait after finishing just short in 2023 and 2024.
The 27-year-old becomes the first Moroccan to lift the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998,ending nearly three decades without a winner from the North African giants. The victory sparked huge celebrations inside the venue, with the Paris Saint-Germain right-back receiving the trophy while hobbling up the stage due to his recent ankle ligament injury.
Hakimi’s season was nothing short of exceptional. He helped fire PSG to the Ligue 1 title and their first-ever Champions League crown, scoring the opener in the 5–0 final win over Inter Milan. The French side also bagged the UEFA Super Cup, Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions, although their dream season ended with disappointment after losing the Club World Cup final to Chelsea.
“It’s really an honour for me to win this prestigious trophy,” Hakimi said on stage, clutching the award while keeping weight off his injured foot. “This trophy is not just for me, it’s for all the Africans that has dreams.”
But the spotlight now turns to whether he’ll be fit in time for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, hosted in Morocco. The defender is racing against the clock after damaging ankle ligaments in PSG’s clash with Bayern Munich earlier this month. Still, Hakimi insists he’ll fight to play: “We will do our best to win the Afcon trophy. I’d like to thank my physios and everyone supporting me in this difficult period.”
Morocco are desperate to win their first continental title since 1976, and Hakimi has been central in promoting the tournament, appearing in media campaigns, commercials and public events leading to kickoff. His absence would be a massive blow for the Atlas Lions, who have built a squad good enough to challenge Senegal, Nigeria and defending champions Ivory Coast.
It was also a massive night for Moroccan football on the women’s side. National team captain Ghizlane Chebbak pulled off a surprise win, beating Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade and compatriot Sanaa Mssoudy to claim Women’s Player of the Year. The victory sparked debate online, with some fans believing Ajibade’s WAFCON-winning season made her the stronger candidate.
The awards are voted for by a panel including CAF’s technical committee, African media, coaches and players across the continent, meaning the outcome tends to reflect both performances on the pitch and wider influence in African football.
Hakimi, already one of the most popular African footballers globally, now adds his biggest personal accolade yet to a growing CV that includes league titles in France, Italy, Germany and a World Cup semi-final place with Morocco in 2022. His leadership for country, along with a more attacking full-back role at PSG, has pushed him into genuine superstardom, not just a great defender, but a match-winner.
For Morocco, the night couldn’t have been scripted better: top awards, home audience, and a renewed sense of momentum ahead of hosting Afcon. Now the pressure is real, a continental title feels like the only fitting next chapter.
Hakimi has his trophy. Morocco want theirs next.
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