Morocco enjoyed a night of sweeping success at the CAF Awards 2025 in Rabat, where Achraf Hakimi and Ghizlane Chebbak headlined an evening dedicated to honouring Africa’s finest performers across the past year. The glamorous ceremony brought together some of the continent’s biggest names, celebrating a period of remarkable progress for African football on and off the pitch.
Hakimi claimed the CAF Men’s Player of the Year title after a phenomenal 2025 campaign with Paris Saint-Germain. The right-back lifted the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Ligue 1 and Coupe de France, before reaching the FIFA Club World Cup final. His influence also stretched to the international stage, helping Morocco secure qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He becomes the first defender to win Africa’s top individual honour in more than five decades and the first Moroccan recipient since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.
“This trophy is for all Africans who dare to dream,” Hakimi said after receiving the award.
Chebbak, newly signed by Al-Hilal, capped off an extraordinary year by clinching the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award—becoming the first Moroccan woman to do so. She finished as top scorer at the 2024 WAFCON, guiding Morocco to a runners-up finish and reinforcing her reputation as one of the continent’s most consistent performers. “This reflects years of dedication,” she said moments after lifting the award.
Morocco’s dominance on the night continued as Yassine Bounou was named CAF Men’s Goalkeeper of the Year following standout showings with Al-Hilal and a memorable run at the FIFA Club World Cup. Nigeria’s Chiamaka Nnadozie earned the women’s equivalent for a third successive year after guiding the Super Falcons to their WAFCON triumph in Morocco.
Cape Verde’s Bubista took home the CAF Men’s Coach of the Year award, recognised for steering his nation to a historic first-ever FIFA World Cup qualification. Women’s coaching honours will be confirmed after the conclusion of the CAF Women’s Champions League in Egypt.
Other major winners included DR Congo forward Fiston Mayele, whose clinical form powered Pyramids to their maiden CAF Champions League title, earning him the Interclub Player of the Year accolade. Rising Moroccan star Othmane Maamma was named Men’s Young Player of the Year, while Doha El Madani retained the women’s youth award after excelling for AS FAR and shining at the Women’s Futsal AFCON.
Morocco’s Under-20 side, newly crowned world champions, were voted Men’s National Team of the Year, while Nigeria’s Super Falcons continued their continental supremacy by securing the women’s national team honour once again. Pyramids completed their golden year with the CAF Men’s Club of the Year award. Tanzania’s Clement Mzize won Goal of the Year for his spectacular long-range effort against TP Mazembe, the only award decided by fans.
East Africa also earned special recognition, as Presidents William Ruto, Samia Suluhu Hassan and Yoweri Museveni received outstanding achievement honours for successfully co-hosting CHAN 2024 and preparing for the AFCON 2027 showpiece.
