Morocco’s football dominance on the African continent continues as the North African nation’s players scooped up the top prizes at this year’s CAF Awards.
Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak were named Men’s and Women’s Player of the Year respectively at the event that had legendary Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan pick Morocco, Cote D’Ivoire and Nigeria as favourites to win this year’s AFCON title. (Click highlighted text to read full story)
Paris Saint-Germain defender Hakimi was one of the standout players in the French team’s sweep of titles in the 2024-2025 season that had the Parisiens win the UEFA Champions League, French League and French Cup titles.
He beat out competition from Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Galatasaray’s Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen to win the prestigious award.
Wearing a brace on his injured ankle that is set to keep him out of action till the second week in December, Hakimi received the award in the presence of top dignitaries including PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi.
Morocco’s veteran forward Ghizlane Chebbak won the Women’s Player of the Year Award after winning the Top Scorer Award at the 2024 Women’s AFCON and making it to the Team of the Tournament at the competition. Morocco finished second after losing to Nigeria in the final game.
Other award winners included Morocco’s Yassine Bounou who won the Men’s Goalkeeper Award and Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadodzie won her third Women’s Goalkeeper Award.
After inspiring Cape Verde to qualify to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is the island nation’s first ever qualification to the Mundial, Bubista won the Men’s Coach of the Year Award.
