Achraf Hakimi Wins African Footballer of the Year

Staff Report | PNN

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) star from Morocco, Achraf Hakimi, has made history by winning the 2025 African Footballer of the Year award. He is the first defender to receive this honor in 52 years. At the CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, Hakimi surpassed Liverpool’s Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah and Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen.

This season, Hakimi’s performances have been outstanding. In May, he played a key role in helping PSG win the UEFA Champions League for the first time, defeating Italian club Inter Milan 5–0 in the final, completing a treble—League 1, Coupe de France, and Champions League. In August, PSG also won the European Super Cup by defeating Tottenham Hotspur, securing their fourth trophy of the year.

Receiving the award, Hakimi said, “This success is not just mine but belongs to all the young men and women across Africa who hold football in their hearts as a dream. I am grateful to everyone who believed in me from childhood.”

Hakimi also shone in the Ballon d’Or this year, ranking sixth on the men’s list, setting a new record for Moroccan football. His teammate, French forward Ousmane Dembélé, won the Ballon d’Or.

There was more joy for Moroccan football: goalkeeper Yassine Bounou won the men’s Best Goalkeeper award, and Ghislaine Chebbak won Women’s Footballer of the Year—both play in Saudi Arabia-based clubs.

In women’s football, Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie continued her dominance, winning the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive time. She recently joined Brighton in the English Women’s Super League.

Cape Verde also made history, with coach Bubista named Best Coach after leading the nation to its first-ever World Cup qualification. However, they will not be the smallest participating nation, as Caribbean island nation Curaçao, with a population of only 156,000, secured a World Cup spot after a goalless draw against Jamaica.