Paris Saint-Germain and Morocco star, Achraf Hakimi was crowned the 2025 African Player of the Year at the CAF Awards, beating Liverpool‘s Mohamed Salah and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen in one of the most fiercely contested races in recent years.
The 27-year-old right-back etched his name into the history books, becoming:
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The first defender to win the award since 1973
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The second PSG player to ever claim the accolade, after George Weah in 1994
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The first Moroccan winner since Mustapha Hadji in 1998
His coronation was highly anticipated, following a phenomenal 2024/25 campaign for both club and country that was described as redefining the modern full-back role.
A Season That Redefined the Right-Back Position
Achraf Hakimi’s 2024/25 season was widely regarded as groundbreaking. Across all competitions for PSG, the Moroccan international made 48 appearances, delivering:
His attacking influence was especially pronounced in the UEFA Champions League, where he contributed 4 goals and 5 assists in 17 matches.
This includes the opening goal in PSG’s historic final victory over Inter Milan, sealing the club’s first-ever Champions League title.
Domestically, his numbers remained elite: 4 goals and 6 assists in 25 Ligue 1 matches.
He also made decisive contributions in the Coupe de France and Trophée des Champions, and played a key role as PSG reached the FIFA Club World Cup final and lifted the UEFA Super Cup after a victory over Tottenham Hotspur.
The sheer scale of his trophy haul was unmatched by any African footballer this season:
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Ligue 1
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UEFA Champions League
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Coupe de France
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Trophée des Champions
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UEFA Super Cup
Hakimi’s blend of defensive discipline, attacking intelligence, and clutch performances throughout the campaign tipped the balance decisively in his favour.
“The Complete Full-Back” – Achraf Hakimi
On the international stage, Hakimi captained Morocco to an unbeaten run in the AFCON qualifiers. CAF voters applauded his unique ability to dominate both ends of the pitch, with many describing him as “the complete full-back.”
His impact helped elevate Morocco to one of the continent’s most formidable football nations crowning a “Golden Night” for the Atlas Lions, punctuated also by Ghizlane Chebbak’s victory in the women’s category.
Salah’s Stunning Season Falls Just Short
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, 33, finished second despite another remarkable individual campaign.
33-year-old Salah powered Liverpool to the 2024/25 Premier League title, ending Manchester City’s four-year dominance, while posting extraordinary numbers:
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29 goals and 18 assists in 38 Premier League matches
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3 goals and 4 assists in 9 Champions League games
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2 goals and 1 assist in the EFL Cup
In total, he recorded 57 goal involvements in 52 club appearances.
For Egypt, Salah added 4 goals in 5 AFCON qualifiers, pushing his tally to 57 goals in 89 caps.
However, Liverpool’s Champions League exit to Hakimi’s PSG in the quarterfinals ultimately weakened his case compared to Hakimi’s trophy-laden year.
Osimhen’s Goal Machine Season Earns Third Place
Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen rounded out the top three after a prolific campaign that reestablished him as one of world football’s most fearsome centre-forwards.
At Galatasaray, he delivered:
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26 Süper Lig goals (league top-scorer)
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6 goals in the Europa League
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5 goals in the Turkish Cup
That totaled 37 goals and 7 assists in 41 club appearances, helping Galatasaray to;
- a domestic double,
- the Süper Lig and
- Turkish Cup.
For the Super Eagles, Osimhen struck 6 goals in 5 AFCON qualifiers, including a spectacular hat-trick against Benin, writing history as Nigeria’s second-highest all-time scorer.
The 2023 CAF POTY was however, edged out by Hakimi’s combination of club success, continental dominance, and unprecedented defensive influence.
Why Hakimi Won Over Salah and Osimhen
CAF’s voting system rewarded Hakimi’s:
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unmatched trophy collection
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transformational influence on PSG
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decisive performances in Europe’s biggest games
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leadership for Morocco
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and his rare ability to impact matches from a traditionally defensive role
While Salah and Osimhen delivered astonishing attacking numbers, Hakimi’s season was widely regarded as historic.
