Achraf Hakimi is Africa’s Footballer of the Year. The Paris St. Germain player, who is currently injured, beat big names such as Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen.
Achraf Hakimi is currently sidelined with an unspecified ankle injury, which he sustained in the Champions League during the 1-2 defeat to FC Bayern as a result of a foul by Luis Diaz. The Moroccan can now console himself with the title of African Footballer of the Year.
The former Bundesliga pro (54 Bundesliga games for Borussia Dortmund) relegated big names such as the two star strikers Mohamed Salah of Liverpool FC, who won in 2017 and 2018, and Victor Osimhen of Galatasaray, title holder in 2023, to second and third place. Hakimi had finished third in each of the past two years and was therefore considered a hot candidate, especially since Salah (Premier League) and Osimhen (Turkish SüperLig) had “only” won national titles.
“It is a great honor to be here today, and I am proud to win such a prestigious trophy,” said Hakimi, who won both the French championship and the Champions League with Paris last season. The 27-year-old succeeds Ademola Lookman (Atalanta Bergamo).
The full-back is currently injured but hopes to make a comeback soon, as he wants to be fit again for the start of the Africa Cup of Nations on December 21—especially since the tournament is being held in Morocco.
Incredible triumph for Morocco
After more than 52 years, a defender has once again been named African Footballer of the Year, with Bwanga Tshimen last receiving this honor in 1973. At the time, he represented Zaire, now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Hakimi is also the first Moroccan to receive this award since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Incidentally, it was a double triumph for Morocco: Hakimi’s compatriot Ghizlane Chebbak won the African Footballer of the Year award. The 35-year-old midfielder plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. And it wasn’t the only award for the North Africans.
The U-20 team, which sensationally won the U-20 World Cup (2-0 against Argentina), is Team of the Year, Bono (Al-Hilal) is Goalkeeper of the Year, while Othmane Maamma (Watford FC) and Doha El Madani were named Best Young Player and Best Young Player respectively.
Meanwhile, the Moroccans came away empty-handed in the Coach of the Year category, with Bubista prevailing after sensationally leading Cape Verde to the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the USA.