RABAT, Morocco (BN24)— Achraf Hakimi claimed the 2025 Confederation of African Football Men’s Player of the Year Award on Wednesday, capping a career-defining season that propelled him past Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen in one of the most competitive races in recent years.
The announcement unfolded during the CAF Awards ceremony in Rabat, where Hakimi’s presence as the only finalist in attendance intensified anticipation inside the packed venue. The Paris Saint-Germain right back received a prolonged ovation as his name was called, with fans and dignitaries acknowledging a breakthrough long in the making.
Hakimi’s win carries historic weight for Moroccan football. He becomes the nation’s first recipient of the award since Mustapha Hadji captured the honor in 1998, ending a 27-year gap for Morocco on African football’s most prestigious individual podium. His triumph also places him among the rare defenders to claim the title, marking only the fourth time a player in a defensive role has earned the recognition in the award’s modern history.
The 27-year-old entered the 2025 ceremony with unfinished business, having finished as runner-up twice. In 2023, he narrowly lost to Osimhen, and in 2024, he finished behind Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman. His consistent performances for PSG and the Moroccan national team over the past year, marked by decisive contributions on both ends of the pitch, have strengthened his case, elevating him above two of Africa’s most celebrated attackers.
Hakimi’s victory is viewed as a defining moment in his career and a milestone for defenders on the continent, underscoring his influence in a sport often dominated by forwards. His win is expected to further enhance Morocco’s rising stature in football and reaffirm his status as one of Africa’s most complete and influential players.
