Morocco’s CAF Golden night

ACHRAF HAKIMI

ACHRAF HAKIMI claimed the CAF Men’s Player of the Year award and compatriot Ghizlane Chebbak the CAF Women’s Player of the Year prize in a double triumph for Morocco at the CAF Awards 2025 in Rabat on Wednesday night, as Africa’s best performers of the year were honoured.

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.

Paris Saint-Germain right-back Hakimi was named CAF Men’s Player of the Year 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 and is 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.

Chebbak has been a model of consistency for club and country in 2025 and was the leading scorer at the TotalEnergies 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 stand-out 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.

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)