Achraf Hakimi Named African Footballer of the Year

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) right-back Achraf Hakimi has been voted the African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Morocco.

This historic victory makes him the first defender to claim the continent's most prestigious individual award in 52 years, and the first Moroccan winner since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

The Moroccan international finished ahead of two-time winner Mohamed Salah Egypt/Liverpool) and star striker Victor Osimhen (Nigeria). Hakimi is the first defender to win the award since Bwanga Tshimen (then of Zaire) in 1973.

His triumph was cemented by a monumental season with PSG, where he was a central figure in their historic treble—winning the UEFA Champions League (scoring the opening goal in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan), the Ligue 1 title, and the Coupe de France. They also secured the UEFA Super Cup in August, making it four trophies for the calendar year.

Hakimi's exceptional form also earned him a sixth-place finish in the 2025 Men's Ballon d’Or rankings, the highest position ever achieved by a Moroccan player. He expressed immense pride, noting that the trophy "is not just for me but all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa." Morocco dominated the awards night, claiming multiple top honours: