Moroccan defender Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the 2025 CAF Player of the Year, beating Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah to Africa’s biggest individual football honour. The award ceremony, organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), took place on Monday night and celebrated the continent’s top performers from the past season.
Hakimi, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), made history as he stepped up to receive the award at age 27. This victory comes after he finished in second place for two years in a row, making this year’s win a major personal breakthrough. He succeeds Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, who won the award in 2024.
The Moroccan star enjoyed a remarkable 2023/2024 season, helping PSG secure several major trophies. He played a key role as the French giants won the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup, and, most notably, their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy. His performances as a right-back, known for both strong defensive ability and quick attacking play, earned him praise from fans and analysts across Europe and Africa.
Despite arriving at the event with his foot heavily strapped due to injury, Hakimi still received loud applause as he walked to the stage. His current injury ruled him out of recent matches, but the setback did little to overshadow what has been an outstanding year.
For Nigerians, the main talking point was the outcome for Victor Osimhen, who finished as runner-up. Osimhen, who recently joined Turkish giants Galatasaray, had been hoping to add another CAF award to his name after finishing as Africa’s top footballer in 2023. He has remained one of the continent’s biggest stars, admired for his goal-scoring ability and strong presence on the pitch.
Many Nigerian fans had seen Osimhen as a strong contender for this year’s award. His competitive performances for both club and country kept him among the favourites. However, Hakimi’s major role in PSG’s triple triumph, especially their Champions League success, gave him the edge in the final votes.
Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, another regular contender for African football honours, finished in third place. The Liverpool forward has been a consistent force for both club and country but did not match the trophy haul achieved by Hakimi this season.
The CAF Awards remain one of the most prestigious events in African sports, celebrating players, coaches, and teams who have excelled across the continent and beyond. Over the years, African football stars have used the platform to showcase their achievements and inspire younger generations.
As the football world reacts to this year’s results, Hakimi’s win adds another chapter to Morocco’s growing influence in African football. For Nigeria, Osimhen’s second-place finish remains a reminder of the country’s strong presence on the continental stage, even though the top prize slipped away this time.
