Achraf Hakimi named African player of the year

Moroccan star Achraf Hakimi yesterday won the African Player of the year award at the CAF ceremony in Rabat, Morocco. The full back has had a sensational individual year, being one of his side’s stalwarts in their run to Champions league glory last season, scoring in the quarter finals, semi finals and the final, a remarkable feat for a full back. Hakimi also led his national team to a comfortable World Cup qualification, as they topped group E of the African world cup qualification to secure their place in next summer’s showpiece tournament.

Achraf Hakimi crowned African Ballon d'Or

Hakimi was the favourite for the award, having had an exceptional and historic individual season. His closest contestant was perhaps Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah, who also had an excellent individual season, leading his side to a league title. Hakimi, in fact, becomes the first Moroccan to win the award since 1998, and expressed gratitude to both his family and his teammates in a tweet posted to X after the ceremony.

Some of the finest moments of Hakimi’s season were the aforementioned goals, but he also improved his game to become perhaps the undisputed best right back in the world, combining his incomparable attacking threat from the back with an improved defensive resilience and leadership qualities that have seen him become established as one of PSG’s leaders. His goal after only ten minutes of last season’s Champions League final symbolized his knack of being in the right place at the right time, and his lack of celebration against his former side Inter demonstrated the respectful character that he is off the pitch.

PSG’s players have received plenty of individual recognition for their trophy laden campaign, as Ousmane Dembélé won the Ballon D’or, Desiré Doué won the golden boy and Gianluigi Donnarumma won the Yashin award, all in addition to Hakimi’s crowning yesterday. Indeed, it seems only fair given the historic nature of the Parisian’s season.

It’s third time lucky for Hakimi, who came second in both of the last two editions of the award, to Nigerians Ademola Lookman in 2024 and Victor Osimhen in 2023. In winning the award, Hakimi joins such prestigious names as Mohammed Salah, who won in 2017 and 2018, Sadio Mane, who won in 2019 and 2020 and the iconic Yaya Touré, who won for four straight years between 2011 and 2014. Other footballing legends such as Riyad Mahrez, Samuel Etoo and Didier Drogba all have also been crowned at various points.

Hakimi is actually currently injured, and was noticeably limping as he received the award. PSG will hope he will be back in contention before the business end of the season, as the Moroccan optimistically proclaimed that he should be back fit by January’s Afcon tournament. Luis Enrique will hope he is right because, as today’s award suggests, he is a great player.