Morocco’s national team captain Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the African Men’s Player of the Year, capping off a remarkable season in which he lifted the UEFA Champions League title with Paris Saint-Germain.
The 27-year-old right-back enjoyed one of his best seasons yet, adding a fourth Ligue 1 crown, the French Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup to his name. The only blemish came in New York, where PSG fell short in the Club World Cup final, leaving Hakimi with a runners-up medal.
Hakimi beat two former winners — Liverpool star Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen — to clinch the award for the first time. Speaking after receiving the trophy, he said he was honoured and dedicated the win to his family, teammates and Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
“This trophy isn’t just for me,” Hakimi said. “It’s for all the strong men and women in Africa who dream big and hope to become footballers.”
Though currently recovering from a severe ankle sprain, Hakimi is expected to lead host nation Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations beginning December 21, as they chase their first continental title since 1976.
His victory makes him the first Moroccan to secure the award since Riyad Mahrez in 2016, breaking a long run dominated by West African players.
This year’s finalists included Osimhen, who shone with a Serie A Golden Boot at Napoli; Salah, who produced 28 goals and 18 assists for Liverpool; and Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson, now thriving at Chelsea with 21 Premier League goals.
Voting by journalists, coaches and national team captains gave Hakimi 38 per cent, ahead of Osimhen’s 29 per cent, Salah’s 22 per cent, and Jackson’s 11 per cent.
The award follows a streak of Nigerian success in recent years. Ademola Lookman won in 2024 after his Europa League heroics with Atalanta, Osimhen claimed back-to-back titles in 2023, and Senegal’s Sadio Mané lifted the trophy in 2022.
Morocco also dominated the women’s categories. Ghizlane Chebbak was named African Women’s Player of the Year, beating fellow Moroccan Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigerian forward Rasheedat Ajibade after finishing as top scorer at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The host nation had plenty more to celebrate. Yassine Bounou won the men’s goalkeeper of the year award, while the under-20 World Cup-winning side was named best men’s national team.
Watford’s 20-year-old Othmane Maamma was voted best young male player, and Morocco’s Doha El Madani retained the young women’s player award.
Cape Verde’s coach Bubista also received recognition, winning men’s coach of the year for guiding the tiny island nation — with a population of only 525,000 — to a historic place at the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie rounded off the honours by winning her third straight women’s goalkeeper of the year award.
