Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen Miss Out as PSG Star Achraf Hakimi Crowned African Player of the Year

 Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi has been crowned African Player of the Year, beating high-profile contenders Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to the prestigious award. The Moroccan international collected the honor at a glittering ceremony, capping off a season in which he won a historic treble with PSG.

🏆 Hakimi’s Triumph

Hakimi’s 2025 campaign was nothing short of spectacular:

• Helped PSG secure Ligue 1, the Coupe de France, and the UEFA Champions League.

• Played a pivotal role in Morocco’s continued rise, following their 2022 World Cup semi-final heroics.

• Became the first Moroccan since Mustapha Hadji (1998) to win the award.

“It’s really an honour for me to be here today and I’m proud to win such a prestigious trophy,” Hakimi said, thanking his family, teammates, and Morocco manager Walid Regragui.

⚡ Salah & Osimhen Miss Out

• Mohamed Salah endured a dip in form at Liverpool, with his influence waning as the team struggled offensively. He scored fewer goals and took fewer shots compared to previous seasons.

• Victor Osimhen, despite his reputation as one of Europe’s deadliest strikers, missed out after Napoli’s inconsistent campaign and Nigeria’s failure to secure major silverware.

Both players remain icons of African football, but Hakimi’s consistency and silverware tipped the scales in his favor.

🧠 Moroccan Dominance

The ceremony highlighted Morocco’s growing influence in African football:

• Ghizlane Chebbak won the Women’s African Player of the Year.

• Yassine Bounou claimed the Best Goalkeeper award.

• Morocco’s U-20 World Cup-winning side was named Best National Men’s Team.

• Rising star Othmane Maamma won Best Young Male Player.

This collective success underscores Morocco’s emergence as a continental powerhouse.

📉 Liverpool’s Salah Under Pressure

Salah’s omission comes amid scrutiny of Liverpool’s attacking struggles. New signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak have yet to deliver consistently, while Salah’s reduced output has prompted calls for manager Arne Slot to rethink his forward line.

Former midfielder Don Hutchison even suggested phasing Salah out to accommodate younger talents, noting the Africa Cup of Nations could be the moment to experiment.

🔮 Looking Ahead

Hakimi is currently recovering from an ankle sprain but is expected to lead Morocco at the Africa Cup of Nations, hosted on home soil from December 21. The Atlas Lions will aim to win the tournament for the first time since 1976.