Hakimi smiles through pain in historic CAF 2025 Awards Night
It has been a tough few weeks for Achraf Hakimi. Ever since he was helped off the pitch during Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League clash against Bayern Munich earlier this month, the narrative around the Moroccan star has been one of anxiety. With a severe ankle sprain threatening his participation in the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), the mood has been heavy.
However, on Wednesday night, November 19, 2025, at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat, the pain was momentarily replaced by triumph.
In a ceremony that turned into a celebration of Moroccan excellence, Achraf Hakimi was crowned the African Men’s Player of the Year. Arriving at the venue with a visible limp—a stark reminder of the race against time he faces to be fit for AFCON—Hakimi’s victory felt like the morale boost both he and his nation desperately needed. Accepting the award on home soil, the “Lion of the Atlas” smiled through the adversity, his accolade serving as a reminder of a spectacular year that has now been capped with the continent’s highest individual honor.
A Clean Sweep for the Hosts
Hakimi wasn’t the only local hero celebrated under the lights in Rabat. The host nation enjoyed a near-total domination of the major categories, proving that Moroccan football is currently in a golden era.
The home crowd roared as Ghizlane Chebbak was named Women’s Player of the Year, a fitting reward for her technical brilliance and leadership, leading Morocco to successive AWCON finals – the most recent, a defeat to Nigeria. Meanwhile, Yassine Bounou retained his status as Africa’s premier shot-stopper, taking home the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award.
The future looks just as intimidating for Morocco’s rivals. Othmane Maamma and Doha El Madani swept the Young Player of the Year categories for men and women respectively, while the Morocco U20 squad was recognized as the Men’s National Team of the Year.
Cape Verde’s Fairytale and Pyramids’ Rise
While Morocco hoarded the gold, the most heartwarming story of the night belonged to Cape Verde. Their head coach, Bubista, was named Men’s Coach of the Year. His recognition comes after a miraculous campaign where he guided the “Blue Sharks”—a nation of just over half a million people—to their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, proving that tactical discipline can topple giants.
In club football, the balance of power shifted to Egypt, but not to the usual suspects. Pyramids FC was crowned Men’s Club of the Year, finally stepping out of the shadow of their Cairo rivals. Their lethal striker, Fiston Mayele (DR Congo), was deservedly named Men’s Interclub Player of the Year for his prolific scoring form in continental competitions.
Nigeria Reigns Supreme in Women’s Football
Nigeria continued to assert its dominance in the women’s game. Chiamaka Nnadozie secured the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award, further cementing her reputation as the best goalkeeper in Africa. Her heroics were matched by her team, as the Nigeria Super Falcons were named Women’s National Team of the Year.
Spectacular Goals and Unsung Heroes
The ceremony also took time to honor the moments and officials that make the game beautiful. Tanzania’s Clement Mzize won Goal of the Year for a strike that brought fans to their feet.
The officiating teams were also spotlighted, with Somalia’s Omar Abdelkadir winning Men’s Referee of the Year, Djibouti’s Liban Abdoulrazack taking Assistant Referee of the Year, and Uganda’s Shamirah Nabadda winning Women’s Referee of the Year.
Note: Due to the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt, the awards for Women’s Coach of the Year, Women’s Interclub Player of the Year, and Women’s Club of the Year have been postponed and will be announced at a later date.
Full List of Winners: 2025 CAF Awards*
Player of the Year
- Men: Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Women: Ghizlane Chebbak (Morocco)
Coach of the Year
- Men: Bubista (Cape Verde)
Goalkeeper of the Year
- Men: Yassine Bounou (Morocco)
- Women: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria)
Young Player of the Year
- Men: Othmane Maamma (Morocco)
- Women: Doha El Madani (Morocco)
Interclub Player of the Year
- Men: Fiston Mayele (DR Congo)
Club of the Year
- Men: Pyramids FC (Egypt)
National Team of the Year
- Men: Morocco U20
- Women: Nigeria Super Falcons
Special Awards
- Goal of the Year: Clement Mzize (Tanzania)
- Men’s Referee of the Year: Omar Abdelkadir (Somalia)
- Assistant Referee of the Year: Liban Abdoulrazack (Djibouti)
- Women’s Referee of the Year: Shamirah Nabadda (Uganda)
