Morocco celebrated a landmark night at the 2025 CAF Awards as Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak claimed the continent’s top individual honours, marking one of the most successful awards ceremonies in the host nation’s history.
Hakimi, the 27-year-old Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain right-back, was crowned African Footballer of the Year, beating Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen after a stellar club season where he helped PSG win the French league and their maiden Champions League title. He also scored in the 5–0 final victory over Inter Milan and lifted the UEFA Super Cup, Coupe de France and French Super Cup.
The accolade ends Morocco’s long wait for the men’s award, last won by Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Accepting the award while nursing an ankle-ligament injury sustained earlier this month, Hakimi said:
“This trophy is not just for me — it is for all Africans who have dreams.”
He also vowed to recover in time for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host as they chase their first title since 1976.
Chebbak creates history in women’s category
Morocco’s Ghizlane Chebbak was named Women’s Player of the Year, becoming the first Moroccan — male or female — to win the award since its inception in 2001. The 35-year-old finished as the top scorer at the delayed 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, though Morocco narrowly lost 3–2 to Nigeria in the final.
Despite Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade being the pre-event favourite after winning player of the tournament, Chebbak edged ahead in voting by CAF’s expert panel.
“This is the fruit of a lot of hard work over the years,” she said.
There was consolation for Nigeria as Brighton goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie claimed Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year for the third consecutive time.
Cape Verde’s Bubista wins big; Morocco U20 dominate team categories
Cape Verde coach Bubista secured the Men’s Coach of the Year honour after guiding his nation to a historic first-ever qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Morocco’s dominance continued with
Yassine Bonou winning Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year, Othmane Maamma taking Men’s Young Player of the Year, and the triumphant Morocco U-20 squad named Men’s National Team of the Year after winning the Under-20 World Cup.
Doha El Madani of AS FAR earned the Women’s Young Player of the Year award.
East African leaders — Kenyan President William Ruto, Tanzania’s Samia Suluhu Hassan and Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni — received Outstanding Achievement Awards after jointly hosting the 2024 African Nations Championship. The trio will co-host AFCON 2027.
2025 CAF Awards — Full Winners List
Men’s Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (PSG & Morocco)
Women’s Player of the Year: Ghizlane Chebbak (Al-Hilal & Morocco)
Men’s Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)
Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bonou (Al-Hilal & Morocco)
Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Nigeria)
Men’s National Team of the Year: Morocco U-20
Women’s National Team of the Year: Nigeria
Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids (Egypt)
Men’s Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids & DR Congo)
Men’s Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Watford & Morocco)
Women’s Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR & Morocco)
Goal of the Year (Fan Vote): Clement Mzize (Young Africans vs TP Mazembe)
Women’s coach of the year, interclub player of the year and club of the year in the women’s category will be announced after the 2025 Women’s African Champions League concludes.
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