Achraf Hakimi, widely regarded as one of the top right-backs in world football, has enjoyed a truly remarkable year. The PSG star completed a historic treble—lifting the UEFA Champions League, Ligue 1, and Coupe de France—along with the UEFA Super Cup. On the international stage, he played a key role in guiding Morocco to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, making them the first African nation to qualify officially.
Hakimi’s Historic Season With PSG and Morocco
The Atlas Lions, who stunned the world in the previous World Cup, continue to build on their momentum with 18 straight victories, putting them on course for another historic run.
In a groundbreaking achievement, Hakimi was crowned African Footballer of the Year, becoming the first defender in 52 years to secure the award. He won ahead of Egyptian superstar Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s in-form striker Victor Osimhen.
“𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒘𝒐𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂,” 𝑯𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒎𝒊 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒄𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒐𝒓.
Despite currently recovering from an injury, the Moroccan defender attended the ceremony in a wheelchair to accept the biggest award of his career. He is also the first Moroccan footballer to win it since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
A Historic Moment for Moroccan and African Football
The last defender to claim the African Footballer of the Year award was Boyanga Shimon of Zaire (now DR Congo) back in 1973, highlighting the significance of Hakimi’s achievement.
Expressing gratitude, Hakimi added,
“𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒃𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒎𝒆 𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎.”
Morocco further dominated the awards night. PSG and Al Hilal goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was named Goalkeeper of the Year, while Ghislaine Chebbak earned the African Women’s Player of the Year title.
Nigeria also celebrated major recognition as Chiamaka Ndozi, now at Brighton, secured her third consecutive African Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Additionally, Cape Verde coach Bubista was honored as the African Coach of the Year, following his team’s historic qualification for the 2026 World Cup.
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