CAF Awards 2025: Morocco Dominates as Hakimi Makes History

• The CAF Awards 2025, which took place at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat this year, were full of drama, celebration, and Moroccan dominance
• Achraf Hakimi won African Player of the Year, making him the first defender to do so in more than 50 years

The CAF Awards 2025 were full of drama, celebration, and Moroccan dominance. Achraf Hakimi won African Player of the Year, making him the first defender to do so in more than 50 years. The gala took place on Wednesday, November 19, in Rabat and featured African talent in men’s, women’s, youth, and national team categories. Morocco won a lot of awards.

The CAF Awards 2025, which took place at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Rabat this year, were just as good as everyone expected it to be.

The event honored the best players from January to October 2025 and had nominees from all over African football. The ceremony showed how strong Morocco’s football development is by giving out some of the biggest awards to the host nation.

Achraf Hakimi Makes History

Achraf Hakimi won the African Footballer of the Year award at the CAF Awards last night. The Paris Saint-Germain defender beat out big names like Mohamed Salah of Egypt and Victor Osimhen of Nigeria, earning widespread praise for his exceptional performances in 2025.

Hakimi had a great season. He was a big part of PSG’s amazing run, which saw them win the Champions League, Ligue 1, the French Cup, and the UEFA Super Cup.

Hakimi is the first defender to win the African Footballer of the Year since 1973 (when Bwanga Tshimen won) and the first Moroccan to win it since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

Hakimi, who was very grateful, thanked his teammates, coaches, and his roots in his acceptance speech. He dedicated the trophy to young dreams all over Africa.

“This trophy is not just for me but all the strong men and women who have dreams of being a footballer in Africa. And for those that always believed in me since I was a child, that I would be a professional footballer one day, I would like to thank them all.” Al Jazeera quotes Achraf Hakimi.

Moroccan Excellence on the Big Stage

Morocco’s impact didn’t stop with Hakimi; the CAF Awards 2025 turned into a Moroccan party. Ghizlane Chebbak won the Women’s Player of the Year award, cementing her status as one of African women’s football’s most impactful figures.

Yassine Bounou won the men’s goalkeeper award after a strong year for both his club and his country.

Othmane Maamma, a Moroccan forward who plays for EFL Championship side Watford at club level, won the Young Player of the Year award after making waves for Morocco’s U-20 team. Morocco’s Under-20 team, also known as the Atlas Cubs, won the Men’s National Team of the Year award, making it a great night for them.

Other Big Winners and Standouts

This year’s CAF Awards also honored great work from all over Africa:

• Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (DR Congo / Pyramids) — recognized for his outstanding club performances.

• Coach of the Year (Men): Bubista (Cape Verde), who led his national side with distinction.

• Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Nigeria / Brighton), who made it three in a row.

• Young Female Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (Morocco / AS FAR), demonstrating how Moroccan youth football continues to rise.

• Men’s Club of the Year: Pyramids FC (Egypt), recognized for their strong continental performances.

President William Ruto Honored at the Ceremony

One of the standout moments of the evening came when Kenya’s President William Samoei Ruto was honored on stage. Kenyan Ambassador to Morocco Jessica Gakinya accepted the award on his behalf during a special part of the show that honored African leadership in football advancement.

This moment put Kenya in the spotlight and showed that CAF supports governments that are working hard to rebuild and improve football structures.

“With the elaborate support structure the government is putting in place for sports and particularly football, I have no doubt our players shall soon be recipients of these coveted accolades as well.” Football Kenya Federation President, Hussein Mohammed, said on the award, according to Citizen Digital.

The ceremony also honored Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni and Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan. Both were praised for their important roles in strengthening football organizations in their countries and supporting major continental sports projects.

Their recognition brought attention to an important trend: more and more people see East African governments as important partners in CAF’s long-term plan for football development.

The awards showed how important political will and government investment are to the rapid growth of African football. The CAF Awards 2025 honored leaders like Ruto, Suluhu, and Museveni.

They made it clear that for the sport to make long-term progress, it needs more than just good players and strong clubs. It also needs national policies that encourage investment, openness, and youth participation.

What This Means for African Football

The CAF Awards 2025 didn’t just honor great players; they also showed new trends in African football:

Moroccan Dominance: Morocco’s haul shows that the country is now a serious powerhouse, not just at the national team level but also across age groups and genders.

Defensive Revolution: Hakimi’s win shows that defenders in Africa are finally getting the credit they deserve.

Youth Breakthroughs: The awards for Maamma and El Madani show that CAF is serious about finding and promoting new talent.

Women’s Football Momentum: The fact that female players like Chebbak and Nnadozie are always getting awards shows that people are becoming more interested in and respect women’s football.

The Future: The Legacy of the 2025 CAF Awards

People will probably remember the CAF Awards 2025 as a time when African football changed how it rewards excellence. More defenders may try to get to the top after Hakimi’s win, and Moroccan clubs and youth systems may get more attention and money.

For CAF, the event showed how important its awards ceremony is. It’s not just a fancy party; it’s becoming a time of real change that shows where African football is going in the future.

Conclusion

The main point of the CAF Awards 2025 was to honor the talent, ambition, and progress of a continent, not just the trophies. Morocco’s dominance was the main story, but the fact that people of all ages and from many countries recognized it shows that African football has a lot of talent coming up.

CAF wants to keep this momentum going, and the winners of 2025 now have a duty: to use their platform to inspire new generations and help raise the level of the game across the continent. The CAF Awards 2025 showed that Africa’s football future is bright and not just based on individual stars.