Atlas Lions of Morocco captain and defender, Achraf Hakimi, has emerged winner of the CAF men's footballer of the year for 2025, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The PSG star player beat Nigeria Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen to the award in a ceremony held on Wednesday night at the Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique, Rabat, Morocco.
Hakimi, who was also nominated last year for the same award, beat Nigeria and Galatasaray SK man, Osimhen, and Liverpool and Egypt's Mohammed Salah.
Hakimi had a phenomenal season, winning the Champions League, lifting the Ligue 1 trophy, and leading Morocco to World Cup qualification.
He makes history as the first defender to be named African Player of the Year. His triumph also ends a 27-year wait for Morocco, becoming the nation’s first winner since Mustapha Hadji.
Meanwhile, Nigeria's Super Falcons captain and PSG feminine forward, Rasheedat Ajibade, missed out on the Women's Player of the Year.
Morocco and Al Hilal's Ghizlane Hebbak beat the 2024 Women's African Nations Cup WAFCON player of the tournament and her fellow countrywoman and AS FAR's forward, Sanaa Mssoudy, to win.
Nigeria's Flamingo player Sekinat Moshood also missed out of the Young Player of the Year (women) as Morocco's Doha el Madani won it.
Uche Dozie