For the first time in 52 years, a defender emerged as African Player of the Year. Fittingly, it was Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain star, who did the honours for Morocco at the 2025 CAF Awards in Rabat.

Hakimi, who won the 2024/25 Ligue 1 and the UEFA Champions League with PSG, turned two years of misses into glory. The 27-year-old had finished as runner-up in the 2023 and 2024 editions when Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won it respectively. The win also ends Morocco’s drought in the men’s category, as he becomes their first winner since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

Added to Morocco’s success on the night, Ghizlane Chebbak contentiously edged Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade to the Women’s Player of the Year, while Yassine Bounou took home the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year honour. Othmane Maamma and Doha El Madani, winners of the men’s and women’s Youth Player of the Year awards, were also part of Morocco’s sweep.

The North Africans’ dominance on the night mirrors Nigeria’s dominance at the 2023 edition in Marrakesh, where Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala scooped the men’s and women’s Player of the Year awards, with Chiamaka Nnadozie clinching the Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year.

There was some sort of consolation for Nigeria, as Nnadozie retained the Goalkeeper of the Year (Women) – her third consecutive time, while the Super Falcons were named the Women’s Team of the Year.

Full Winners List of 2025 CAF Awards

Player of the Year (Men): Achraf Hakimi

Player of the Year (Women): Ghizlane Chebbak

Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou

Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie

Youth Player of the Year (Men): Othmane Maamma

Women’s Youth Player of the Year: Doha El Madani

Interclub Player of the Year: Ibrahim Mayele

Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Shamirah Nabbadda

Coach of the Year (Men): Bubista

Club of the Year (Men): Pyramids FC

Team of the Year (Men): Morocco National Under-20 Football Team

Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria Women’s National Football Team

Goal of the Year: Clement Mizize

Referee of the Year (Men): Omar Abdulkadir Artan

Referee of the Year (Women): Liban Abdulrazack

Women’s Referee of the Year: Shamirah Nabbadda

CAF Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Tabara Moodji

CAF Assistant Referee of the Year (Men): Liban Abdulrazack