Hakimi, now 27, secured the prestigious African Footballer of the Year title after finishing ahead of Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen. His consistency for both Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco proved decisive, with the right-back instrumental in PSG’s Ligue 1 triumph and historic first Champions League win. He also played a major role in their trophy-laden campaign, which included lifting the UEFA Super Cup, the Coupe de France and the French Super Cup.
The honour ends Morocco’s long wait for a men’s winner—Mustapha Hadji was the last to do so in 1998—and arrives after Hakimi placed just short of the top in the 2023 and 2024 editions.
Still, his moment of triumph came with a reminder of his current challenge: a race to regain fitness for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil. Hakimi collected his trophy on crutches, protecting ankle ligaments damaged earlier this month in a Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
“It’s an honour to receive this trophy,” he said. “It belongs to all Africans who dream. We will do everything we can to win Afcon at home.”
Chebbak Makes Women’s Football History
The celebrations continued as Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak became the first Moroccan to clinch the Women’s Player of the Year award since its inauguration in 2001. Her performances at the delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations — where she finished as the tournament’s top scorer — placed her in contention, and her nomination sparked debate after Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade was widely tipped as favourite. Ajibade had been named the tournament’s best player as Nigeria went on to claim their 10th continental title.
Chebbak, who scored a spectacular goal in the final, dedicated the award to years of persistence. “This is the result of hard work and sacrifice,” she said, visibly emotional.
Nigeria did not leave empty-handed, however: goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie earned the Women's Goalkeeper of the Year prize for the third consecutive year.
Coaching and Youth Excellence Recognised
Elsewhere during the ceremony, Cape Verde enjoyed a landmark moment as coach Bubista was named Men’s Coach of the Year, a reward for guiding his country to an unprecedented qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. “We are a small nation with a big heart,” he said, accepting the award to warm applause.
Moroccan rising star Othmane Maamma, currently with Watford, secured the Men’s Young Player of the Year title. His leadership during Morocco’s triumphant Under-20 World Cup run earned him the tournament’s Golden Ball and elevated his growing reputation.
Regional leadership was also acknowledged, with Kenyan President William Ruto, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni receiving outstanding achievement awards for jointly hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship. Their partnership will continue as the trio prepare to stage the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Men’s Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain & Morocco)
- Women’s Player of the Year: Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al-Hilal & Morocco)
- Men’s Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)
- Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bonou (Al-Hilal & Morocco)
- Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Nigeria)
- Men’s National Team of the Year: Morocco U-20
- Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
- Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids (Egypt)
- Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids & DR Congo)
- Men’s Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Watford & Morocco)
- Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR & Morocco)
- Goal of the Year: Clement Mzize (Young Africans, vs TP Mazembe)