Rabat, Morocco – November 20, 2025 – In a glittering ceremony at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Rabat, Paris Saint-Germain's dynamic right-back Achraf Hakimi was officially named the 2025 African Footballer of the Year by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The 27-year-old Moroccan defender edged out fierce competition from Liverpool's prolific striker Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Galatasaray's lethal forward Victor Osimhen of Nigeria, securing the continent's most coveted individual honor.
Hakimi's victory marks a seismic shift in African football's narrative, as he becomes the first defender to claim the award since Bwanga Tshimen, the formidable center-back from then-Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of Congo) and TP Mazembe, lifted the trophy in 1973. This 52-year drought underscores the rarity of defensive excellence being rewarded over attacking flair. For Morocco, Hakimi's win is equally landmark: he is the first Atlas Lion to hoist the prize since midfielder Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
The awards gala, attended by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, doubled as a celebration of Moroccan football's resurgence. Hakimi, who arrived on stage via electric scooter due to a recent ankle ligament injury sustained in a Champions League clash against Bayern Munich, accepted the gleaming trophy with visible emotion. Despite the discomfort — doctors have pegged his recovery timeline at several weeks, potentially jeopardizing his participation in the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on home soil — he delivered a heartfelt acceptance speech that resonated across the continent.
"It is really a proud moment for me to win this prestigious award," Hakimi declared. "This trophy is not just for me, but for all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa. And for those that always believed in me since I was a child, that I would be a professional footballer one day. I would like to thank them all."
He extended special gratitude to Morocco's King Mohammed VI for bolstering the nation's sports infrastructure, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaïfi, his teammates, family — particularly his mother — and the medical staff aiding his rehabilitation. Hakimi also shouted out fellow Moroccan Yassine Bounou, who won the Best Goalkeeper award, and vowed to deliver the AFCON title for his adoring fans.
Hakimi's 2025 has been nothing short of extraordinary, blending club dominance with international heroics. At PSG, he was instrumental in a domestic and European sweep that etched his name into the club's history. The Parisians clinched the Ligue 1 title in April with a record-extending 13th crown, sealing it via a 1-0 victory over Angers SCO at Parc des Princes while remaining unbeaten in the league. This triumph, achieved with six games to spare, widened their lead over runners-up AS Monaco to an unassailable 24 points.
The Coupe de France followed in May, adding to their earlier Trophée des Champions win against Monaco. The pinnacle arrived on May 31 in Munich's Allianz Arena, where PSG demolished Inter Milan 5-0 in the UEFA Champions League final — their first-ever European Cup. Hakimi opened the scoring with a trademark surging run and finish, before Désiré Doué netted twice, with further strikes from Ousmane Dembélé and Gonçalo Ramos sealing the rout. This historic victory propelled PSG into the UEFA Super Cup in August, where they overcame Tottenham Hotspur to claim their fourth trophy of the calendar year.
The summer brought more drama at the inaugural expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. PSG stormed to the final at MetLife Stadium, thrashing Real Madrid 4-0 in the semifinals before falling 3-0 to Chelsea in the decider on July 13. Despite the defeat, the run showcased Hakimi's versatility: six goals and four assists in Ligue 1, plus five goals and four assists in the Champions League, contributing to 10 clean sheets across competitions. His inclusions in the UEFA Champions League Team of the Season, Ligue 1 Team of the Season, CAF Team of the Year, and the FIFPRO World XI cemented his status as the world's premier right-back.
Internationally, Hakimi's influence was profound. As captain of the Atlas Lions, he orchestrated Morocco's qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the first African nation to book a spot for the expanded tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Topping CAF Group E with a perfect campaign, Morocco amassed maximum points, highlighted by a 5-0 demolition of Niger. This marks Morocco's seventh World Cup appearance and third consecutive, underscoring their evolution into a continental powerhouse.
Hakimi's journey — from Real Madrid's youth ranks to Inter Milan and then PSG — has been one of relentless ascent. Born in Spain to Moroccan parents, he debuted for the Atlas Lions in 2018 and was pivotal in their 2022 World Cup semi-final run. His 2025 accolades, including a sixth-place finish in Ballon d'Or voting, represent the zenith of his career so far.
The ceremony also celebrated Morocco's Ghizlane Chebbak as Women's Player of the Year, while Nigeria's Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed multiple women's honors. As Hakimi eyes AFCON redemption — Morocco lost the 2022 final on penalties to Senegal — his message of inspiration lingers: a beacon for Africa's aspiring talents. In a sport often skewed toward goals over grit, Hakimi's triumph reaffirms that true greatness guards the dream as fiercely as it attacks it.
