CAF awards 2025: Achraf Hakimi wins African Player of the Year award

Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the African Player of the Year 2025, winning the prestigious award for the first time in his career. The ceremony took place on Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, as part of the annual CAF Awards.

Hakimi claimed the top honor ahead of two major contenders:

• Mohamed Salah (Egypt – Liverpool)

• Victor Osimhen (Nigeria – Galatasaray)

Both Salah and Osimhen were absent from the ceremony.

Hakimi’s triumph marks a historic moment for Moroccan football, as he becomes the first Moroccan player to win the award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

The standard. The statement. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐜𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐦𝐢. 👑#CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/oqircbpip5

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 19, 2025

The PSG star enjoyed an exceptional season, lifting a domestic treble with Paris Saint-Germain in France — the Ligue 1 title, French Cup, and French Super Cup — in addition to winning the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.

On the international stage, Hakimi also helped Morocco secure qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Statistically, the right-back scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in 55 matches for PSG last season. In the current campaign, he has already played 14 matches, scoring 2 goals and assisting 3.

⚽ Follow Pan-Africa Football across platforms for real-time news and stories.