The 2025 CAF Awards in Marrakech delivered new continental heroes, with Morocco and Nigeria emerging as the biggest beneficiaries, Soccernet.ng reports.
For the first time since 1998, Morocco celebrated a men’s Player of the Year winner after Achraf Hakimi edged Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.
The Paris Saint-Germain full-back had never previously lifted the award but secured it on the back of a year marked by decisive performances for club and country, finally breaking a 27-year wait for Morocco in Africa’s most prestigious individual category.
Glamorous. Africa’s finest, shining for the cameras! ✨
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 19, 2025
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Osimhen, the 2023 winner, and Salah, a two-time champion, were left to settle for podium spots as Hakimi’s consistency and leadership delivered him a landmark triumph.
There was also history in the women’s category where Morocco again stunned the field.
Ghizlane Chebbak was voted Africa’s best women’s footballer, becoming the first Moroccan woman to claim the award. Her five goals at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations proved decisive, especially in a year where she beat Nigeria’s Rasheedat Ajibade to the honour.
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The Super Falcons captain had widely been considered the favourite after leading Nigeria to the WAFCON title earlier in the year, yet the judges leaned towards Chebbak’s all-round influence and goalscoring impact.
Nigeria’s biggest individual recognition came in goal, where Chiamaka Nnadozie continued her dominance in the Goalkeeper of the Year category. Remarkably, she remains the only player ever to win the award, securing it now for a third consecutive year since its introduction. Her form for Paris FC and Brighton FC, and her commanding displays for Nigeria once again earned her near-unanimous praise across the continent.
At the men’s goalkeeping level, there was disappointment for Stanley Nwabali, who did not make the final shortlist as Morocco’s Yassine Bounou won the honour. Bounou, a long-standing pillar of Moroccan football, added another accolade to an already heavily decorated career.
The youth awards also tilted towards Morocco, with Othmane Maamma winning in the men’s category and Doha El Madani taking the women’s equivalent, reinforcing the country’s deep investment in youth development. El Madani defeated Nigeria’s U17 captain Shakirat Moshood to win the title while Flying Eagles skipper Daniel Bameyi did not make the final shortlist.
Nigeria, however, claimed one of the night’s major collective honours as the Super Falcons were crowned Women’s Team of the Year following their WAFCON triumph. Morocco secured the men’s team honour through their U20 side, who made history by becoming only the second African team to win the FIFA U20 World Cup.
2025 CAF Awards – Full Winners List:
- Player of the Year (Men): Achraf Hakimi
- Player of the Year (Women): Ghizlane Chebbak
- Goalkeeper of the Year (Men): Yassine Bounou
- Goalkeeper of the Year (Women): Chiamaka Nnadozie
- Youth Player of the Year (Men): Othmane Maamma
- Women’s Youth Player of the Year: Doha El Madani
- Interclub Player of the Year: Ibrahim Mayele
- Women’s Interclub Player of the Year: Shamirah Nabbadda
- Coach of the Year (Men): Bubista
- Club of the Year (Men): Pyramids FC
- Team of the Year (Men): Morocco National Under-20 Football Team
- Team of the Year (Women): Nigeria Women’s National Football Team
- Goal of the Year: Clement Mizize
- Referee of the Year (Men): Omar Abdulkadir Artan
- Referee of the Year (Women): Liban Abdulrazack
- Women’s Referee of the Year: Shamirah Nabbadda
- CAF Women’s Assistant Referee of the Year: Tabara Moodji
