Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi has been honored as the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year, following an outstanding season for both club and country.
At the CAF Awards ceremony held in Rabat, Hakimi finished ahead of high-profile contenders Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/Egypt) and Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray/Nigeria) to claim the top individual accolade.
The 27‑year-old right-back played a pivotal role in Paris Saint-Germain’s historic campaign, helping the club secure a domestic treble (Ligue 1, Coupe de France, and Trophée des Champions), as well as the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Super Cup.
Hakimi’s victory is doubly historic: he is the first defender to win the award in over 50 years and the first Moroccan since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Upon receiving the trophy, Hakimi said it was “not just for me, but for all the strong men and women who have dreams of being footballers in Africa … and for those who believed in me since I was a child.”
CAF President Patrice Motsepe praised Hakimi as “a world-class athlete who continues to elevate African football.”
In addition to his club success, Hakimi has been instrumental for the Morocco national team, contributing significantly to their qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
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