Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi was crowned African Men’s Player of the Year on Wednesday, rounding off a season in which he helped Paris Saint-Germain lift the UEFA Champions League.
The 27-year-old right-back, who also added a fourth Ligue 1 title, the French Cup and the UEFA Super Cup to his tally last season, finished ahead of former winners Mohamed Salah of Liverpool and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen to secure the award for the first time.
PSG fell short in the Club World Cup final in New York, where Hakimi settled for a runners-up medal.
“It’s really an honour for me to be here today and I’m proud to win such a prestigious trophy,” Hakimi said, paying tribute to his family, club teammates and Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
Hakimi is currently sidelined with a severe ankle sprain but is expected to lead the host nation at the Africa Cup of Nations beginning on 21 December, as Morocco seek their first title since 1976.
In the women’s category, Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak was named African Women’s Player of the Year after finishing as top scorer at the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, where her side lost to Nigeria in the final.
She beat compatriot Sanaa Mssoudy and Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade to the honour.
It proved a dominant night for the hosts. Yassine Bounou was named Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, while Morocco’s under-20 World Cup-winning side took the Best Men’s National Team award.
Watford midfielder Othmane Maamma, 20, was voted Best Young Men’s Player, and Doha El Madani retained the Best Young Women’s Player title.
Cape Verde coach Bubista received the Men’s Coach of the Year award after guiding the island nation of 525,000 people to qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed her third consecutive Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, consolidating her position as one of the continent’s standout shotstoppers.
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