Golden Night for Morocco in Rabat: Hakimi, Champion at Last, Chebbak Make History at CAF Awards 2025
In a spectacular evening of football celebration, Morocco shone brightly at the 2025 CAF Awards held in Rabat on Wednesday, as the country made history by claiming two of the top individual accolades.
Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain right-back, was crowned CAF Men’s Player of the Year following a stellar 2025 season. Hakimi’s list of accomplishments was nothing short of remarkable. He won the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, French Ligue 1, and Coupe de France titles with PSG, and he also played a pivotal role in helping Morocco qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This accolade not only capped off an extraordinary year but also marked a historic moment, as Hakimi became the first defender to win Africa’s top football honour since 1973, and the first Moroccan to do so since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
Joining Hakimi in making history was Ghizlane Chebbak, who was named CAF Women’s Player of the Year. Chebbak’s consistency and excellence on the pitch were evident as she finished as the top scorer in the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where Morocco finished as runners-up to Nigeria.
The forward’s move to Saudi club Al-Hilal for the 2025/26 season, where she now plays alongside six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, further cemented her status as one of Africa’s premier talents. Chebbak became the first Moroccan to ever win the prestigious award, a monumental achievement for both her and the country’s women’s football.
Another Moroccan star, Yassine Bounou, was also honored, claiming the CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year award. Bounou’s standout performances, including a place in the Best XI at the FIFA Club World Cup 2025, helped secure the recognition, following an exceptional year for both club and country.
In addition to individual accolades, Morocco’s Under-20 team earned the Men’s National Team of the Year award, after a historic victory at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The team’s triumph in Chile marked a new high for Morocco’s youth development programs and the country’s footballing infrastructure as a whole.
The night also saw Cape Verde’s Bubista named CAF Men’s Coach of the Year. Under his leadership, Cape Verde secured their first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification, a monumental achievement for the island nation.
Meanwhile, Chiamaka Nnadozie of Nigeria retained the CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year award for the third consecutive year, having played an instrumental role in Nigeria’s WAFCON title defense.
Fiston Mayele of DR Congo was honoured with the CAF Men’s Interclub Player of the Year award after his heroics for Pyramids FC in the CAF Champions League, where he finished as the competition’s top scorer and helped his club secure their first-ever continental trophy. The Women’s Interclub Player of the Year award will be announced at the conclusion of the ongoing CAF Women’s Champions League.
Morocco continued its dominance in the youth categories as Othmane Maamma was named CAF Men’s Young Player of the Year, following his brilliant performances at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Doha El Madani, meanwhile, retained the CAF Women’s Young Player of the Year award, after an outstanding year that saw her help AS FAR win the Morocco Women’s Championship and lead the team to victory in the CAF Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations.
Pyramids FC’s remarkable CAF Champions League triumph earned them the CAF Men’s Club of the Year award, while the women’s club award will be decided after the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.
The Goal of the Year award, which was determined by fan vote, went to Tanzania’s Clement Mzize for his stunning long-range strike for Young Africans against TP Mazembe.
The 2025 CAF Awards proved to be a golden night for Morocco, marking a historic evening for the country’s footballing achievements on both the men’s and women’s sides. As Morocco continues to rise as a force in African football, the celebrations in Rabat were a fitting tribute to the country’s progress and promise for the future.