Hakimi Favourite for African Footballer of the Year as CAF Awards Hold Tonight
Paris Saint-Germain’s inspirational Moroccan defender, Achraf Hakimi, is widely seen as the favourite to be crowned the new African Footballer of the Year at the 2025 CAF Awards Gala tonight. He faces strong competition from Egypt’s Liverpool striker Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Galatasaray forward Victor Osimhen.
The three players made the final shortlist, and the successor to Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman will be announced later today in front of Africa’s football elite at the Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat. The ceremony is scheduled to begin at 19:00 local time (7:00pm Nigerian time).
Last year, many local fans were left disappointed after Lookman claimed the top prize, succeeding his compatriot Osimhen. But this year, Hakimi is considered the leading contender after finishing runner-up in the last two editions.
Former Super Eagles captain and coach, Sunday Oliseh, has also hinted that Hakimi is the favourite for the 2025 award. He praised Hakimi’s key role in PSG’s successful season, where the French giants won the Ligue 1 title, the French Cup and their first-ever UEFA Champions League trophy.
“What else? Hakimi has already done well to be the next African Footballer of the Year,” Oliseh said in an earlier interview with NationSport. “Did you see the opening goal he scored in the Champions League final against Inter Milan? We shouldn’t forget he is a right-back. He scored the tap-in and still went back to defend.”
Oliseh added confidently, “C’mon, Hakimi has collected his thing.”
In the women’s category, Nigerian stars are expected to shine. Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie are strong favourites for the Women’s Best Player and Women’s Best Goalkeeper awards respectively.
The Super Falcons are also widely tipped to win the Women’s Team of the Year award after lifting their 10th WAFCON title. Their coach, Justin Madugu, is expected to be named Women’s Coach of the Year.
This year’s ceremony will be co-hosted by two icons of African entertainment — five-time Grammy Award-winning Beninese singer Angélique Kidjo and Moroccan comedian and actor Oualass.
