THE Moroccan capital of Rabat transformed into the beating heart of African football on Wednesday night as the continent’s finest gathered for a glittering celebration of excellence that will be remembered for generations.
In a ceremony that sparkled with star power and historic achievements, Morocco claimed the spotlight with an unprecedented sweep that underscored their remarkable rise as a football powerhouse. Leading the charge was Paris Saint-Germain’s elegant defender Achraf Hakimi, who etched his name into the record books by becoming the first defender in over five decades to claim the CAF Men’s Player of the Year crown.
A Defender Breaks the Mold
Hakimi’s triumph carries the weight of history. Not since TP Mazembe’s Bwanga Tshimen in 1973 has a defender stood atop African football’s individual honours. For Morocco, it marks their first winner since the legendary Mustapha Hadji in 1998—a 27-year wait that ended in spectacular fashion.
The PSG right-back’s 2025 season read like a footballer’s dream: UEFA Champions League glory, French Ligue 1 dominance, a Coupe de France triumph, and a FIFA Club World Cup final appearance. Add to that Morocco’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup, and you have a year of unparalleled achievement that made Hakimi’s selection undeniable.
Chebbak Makes Her Own History
But Wednesday belonged to more than one Moroccan hero. Ghizlane Chebbak blazed her own trail by becoming the first woman from Morocco to claim the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award, capping a season of consistency and brilliance.
Her golden boot performance at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations—where Morocco narrowly fell to Nigeria in the final—announced her arrival on the continental stage. Her subsequent move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal, where she now shares a dressing room with six-time award winner Asisat Oshoala, signals ambitions that stretch far beyond personal accolades.
An Atlas Kingdom Coronation
Morocco’s domination didn’t stop there. The kingdom claimed five major awards, painting the evening in red and green splendor:
Yassine Bounou added the Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year trophy to Morocco’s haul, his performances throughout 2025—including a spot in the FIFA Club World Cup Best XI—cementing his reputation as one of Africa’s finest shot-stoppers.
Othmane Maamma, the young Watford starlet, captured the Men’s Young Player of the Year award after helping Morocco’s Under-20 side lift the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in one of the year’s most thrilling tournaments.
Doha El Madani retained her Women’s Young Player of the Year crown, her goals firing AS FAR to domestic glory and Morocco to the CAF Women’s Futsal Africa Cup of Nations title.
And fittingly, Morocco’s Under-20 team was named Men’s National Team of the Year, their World Cup triumph representing the culmination of years of investment in youth development.
Beyond Morocco’s Borders
While Morocco basked in the spotlight, other African nations had their own moments of glory.
Bubista, the tactician behind Cape Verde’s fairytale qualification for the 2026 World Cup, claimed Men’s Coach of the Year honours. His achievement—guiding the island nation to their first-ever World Cup—represents one of the greatest underdog stories in African football history.
Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie made it a hat-trick of Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year awards, her consistency for club and country establishing her as the gold standard in her position. The Super Falcons also claimed Women’s National Team of the Year for the second consecutive year after their Africa Cup of Nations triumph.
DR Congo’s Fiston Mayele was rewarded for his goal-scoring exploits with the Men’s Interclub Player of the Year award, his strikes propelling Pyramids to their maiden CAF Champions League crown.
Speaking of Pyramids, the Egyptian club’s continental conquest earned them the Men’s Club of the Year accolade, a fitting recognition of their historic breakthrough.
The People’s Choice
In the evening’s only fan-voted category, Tanzania’s Clement Mzize claimed Goal of the Year for his thunderous long-range rocket for Young Africans against TP Mazembe—a strike that had social media buzzing for weeks.
A Continent on the Rise
As legends mingled with current stars and coaches shared embraces in the Rabat night, one truth shone brighter than the trophy lights: African football is ascending. From Morocco’s youth revolution to Cape Verde’s World Cup dream, from Nigeria’s women dominating their continent to Egyptian clubs conquering Africa—the game is thriving.
Wednesday night wasn’t just about individual brilliance or team triumph. It was a celebration of a continent that continues to produce world-class talent, inspire millions, and prove that African football’s golden age isn’t coming—it’s already here.
And on this particular night in Rabat, it wore the red and green of Morocco.
