Moroccan star defender, Achraf Hakimi, has written his name in African football history after being crowned the 2025 CAF African Footballer of the Year. 

The Paris Saint-Germain full-back edged past Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen to claim the continent’s most prestigious individual honour.

Hakimi’s win is historic on many fronts. He becomes the first defender to take the award since 1973, when Zaire’s Bwanga Tshimen was recognised. He is also the first Moroccan to win the prize since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, ending a 27-year wait for the North African nation.

In his acceptance speech, the 26-year-old expressed gratitude and emotion, calling the moment “a proud one” for himself and for every young African dreaming of football greatness.

“This trophy is not just for me,” he said. “It is for everyone who believed in me from childhood and for all the men and women across Africa who chase this dream.”

Hakimi’s triumph caps a sensational year on and off the pitch. In 2025, he lifted the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, French Ligue 1, and Coupe de France. He also reached the final of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, solidifying his place among the world’s top defenders.

Beyond club football, Hakimi played a key role in Morocco’s successful qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, helping steer the Atlas Lions back onto the global stage.

With this achievement, Hakimi not only celebrates personal glory but also sets a new milestone for defenders across Africa proving that excellence at the back can command the highest recognition.