Paris Saint-Germain right-back Achraf Hakimi was named CAF Men’s Player of the Year during the 2025 CAF Awards held in Rabat in his home country, Morocco, on Wednesday, November 19. He beat Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah and Nigerian attacker Victor Osimhen to the continent’s top individual prize. The star-studded ceremony was attended by players, coaches and legends from across the continent and beyond, in a celebration of excellence in African football as the game continues to make major strides on the international stage. PSG President Nasser Al-Khelaifi was also in attendance to witness his player grab the throne as Africa’s best after a sensational 2025 in which he won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, French Ligue 1, Coupe de France and reached the final of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. He also helped Morocco qualify for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Hakimi becomes the first defender to be named Africa’s best player since former TP Mazembe centre-back Bwanga Tshimen in 1973, and first Moroccan since Mustapha Hadji in 1998. “It is great honour to be here with you. Winning this prestigious African award fills me with pride. This award is for every Moroccan child dreaming of this moment, said the 27-year-old defender upon receiving the award. It was a double triumph for Morocco whose Ghizlane Chebbak was also grabbed the African Women’s Player of the Year prize. Chebbak has been a model of consistency for club and country in 2025 and was the leading scorer at the CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in July, where Morocco finished runners-up to Nigeria. She moved from AS FAR to Saudi club Al-Hilal ahead of the 2025/26 season, where she is a teammate of six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala. Chebbak is the first ever winner of the award from Morocco. Another Morocco international was recognised as Yassine Bounou claimed the CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award after a standout year that included being named in the Best XI at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025. Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie retained the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive year, having helped the Super Falcons secure the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2024 title. CAF Men’s Coach of the Year went to Bubista, who led Cape Verde to a maiden FIFA World Cup qualification for 2026, the greatest achievement in the country’s football history while the Women’s Coach of the Year award will be presented upon completion of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League Egypt 2025. DR Congo striker Fiston Mayele was named CAF Men’s Interclub Player of the Year after finishing as top scorer in the CAF Champions League 2024/25, helping his Egyptian club Pyramids lift the trophy for the first time. The CAF Women’s Interclub Player of the Year winner will also be announced at the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt. Othmane Maamma won the CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year award after playing a starring role in Morocco’s thrilling triumph at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025. Morocco’s Doha El Madani retained the CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award after helping AS FAR to the Morocco Women’s Championship and finishing as top scorer at the CAF Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations 2025, where Morocco took the title. Then the Morocco’s Under-20 team were named Men’s National Team of the Year after winning the FIFA Under-20 World Cup 2025, while Nigeria’s Super Falcons were the Women’s National Team of the Year following their CAF WAFCON Morocco 2024 success, earning the honour for a second straight year. Pyramids’ CAF Champions League triumph made them worthy winners of the CAF Men’s Club of the Year award, while the women’s club prize will be announced after the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt. The Goal of the Year went to Tanzania’s Clement Mzize for his stunning long-range strike for Young Africans against TP Mazembe in the CAF Champions League. It was the only award decided by a fan vote. Full list of CAF Awards 2025 winners: CAF Player of the Year (Men): Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain) CAF Player of the Year (Women): Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco / Al Hilal) CAF Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou (Morocco / Al Hilal) CAF Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Brighton & Hove Albion) CAF Interclub Player of the Year (Men): Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids) CAF Young Player of the Year (Men): Othmane Maamma (Morocco / Watford) CAF Young Player of the Year (Women): Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR) CAF Coach of the Year (Men): Bubista (Cape Verde) CAF National Team of the Year (Men): Morocco Under-20 CAF National Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria CAF Club of the Year (Men): Pyramids (Egypt) Referee of the Year (Men): Omar Abdulkadir (Somalia) Assistant Referee of the Year (Men): Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti) Referee of the Year (Women): Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda) Assistant Referee of the Year (Women): Tabara Mbodji (Senegal)
