Achraf Hakimi has done what no defender has done in over half a century he's been named the 2025 CAF African Player of the Year. The Paris Saint-Germain right-back beat heavyweights Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen at the Confederation of African Football CAF Awards in Rabat, Morocco, today.
Softfootball reports that Hakimi becomes the first defender to claim the accolade since Zaire's Bwanga Tshimen in 1973, marking a historic moment for African football and for defensive players who often go unnoticed.
The Moroccan star's triumph caps a sensational season with PSG, where he helped the club secure a historic quadruple: Ligue 1, Coupe de France, UEFA Champions League, and UEFA Super Cup.