Morocco captain and Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi was crowned CAF Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards held on Wednesday in Morocco.
Hakimi, who played a key role in Moroccoâs qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, beat Liverpool and Egypt star Mohamed Salah, as well as Nigeria and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen, to claim the prestigious award.
Neither Salahâwho led Liverpool to the Premier League title last seasonânor Osimhen travelled to Morocco for the ceremony. Their absence made it clear they anticipated Hakimi would win the honour.
âI want to thank my family, my mother; these are the most important people in my life,â Hakimi said during his acceptance speech.
âIâm proud to be a Moroccan player. Long live Morocco.â
Hakimi succeeds Nigeria and Atalanta forward Ademola Lookman, who won the award in 2024. He received the trophy in the presence of PSG president Nasser Al-KhelaĂŻfi, who attended the ceremony.
Hakimi helped PSG win the UEFA Champions League last season, thumping Inter Milan 5-0, the game he scored, as well as leading the French champions to the FIFA Club World Cup, where they lost to Chelsea.
Meanwhile, unlike last yearâwhen South Africa claimed several awards, including CAF Footballer of the Year (Based in Africa) and CAF Goalkeeper of the Year, won by Ronwen Williamsâthis year brought no accolades for the nation.
Williams, who was once again nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year, lost out to Moroccoâs Yassine Bounou.
The African Footballer of the Year (Based in Africa) award went to Fiston Mayele, who played a pivotal role in helping Pyramids FC win the CAF Champions League last season.
The Congolese striker was instrumental as the Egyptian club eliminated Orlando Pirates in the semi-final and defeated Mamelodi Sundowns in the final.
The list of CAF award winners:
- Menâs African Footballer of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Womenâs African Footballer of the Year: Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco)
- Menâs Club of the Year: Pyramids
- Menâs Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)
- Womenâs National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Menâs National Team of the Year: Morocco U20
- Menâs Inter-club Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids)
- Womenâs Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
- Menâs Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
- Womenâs Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco)
- Menâs Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Morocco)
- Goal of the Year: Clement Mzize
- Womenâs Referee of the Year: Samirah Nabadda (Uganda)
- Womenâs Assistant Referee of the Year: Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)
- Menâs Referee of the Year: Omar Abdulkadir (Somalia)
- Menâs Assistant Referee of the Year: Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti)