• Wins 2025 CAF honours

By Grace Edet

Achraf Hakimi has been crowned the 2025 CAF Player of the Year, adding Morocco to the growing list of countries dominating Africa’s most prestigious football award. The win reinforces a long-running pattern where North and West African nations compete closely for continental football supremacy.
The historical data, shared by Africa Facts Zone, highlights a remarkable 33-year spread of winners featuring legends from Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Egypt, Cameroon, and Morocco.
Recent Winners (2022–2025): North and West Africa in Full Control
Hakimi’s 2025 win follows a strong run by Nigerian and Senegalese stars:

2025 – Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
2024 – Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
2023 – Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)
2022 – Sadio Mané (Senegal)

Lookman, after winning in 2024, said: “It’s a special recognition for Nigerian football, and I’m proud to be part of this era.”

2016–2021: A Period of Regional Rivalry

This era featured a mix of North and West African winners including:
2019 – Sadio Mané (Senegal)
2018 – Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
2017 – Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
2016 – Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)

2011–2015: The Yaya Touré Golden Run

Ivorian midfielder Yaya Touré dominated the early 2010s with an unprecedented four consecutive wins as indicated below:
2015 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon)
2014 – Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
2013 – Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
2012 – Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)
2011 – Yaya Touré (Côte d’Ivoire)

2003–2010: Eto’o and Drogba Take Centre Stage

Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire were the global faces of African football during this period:

2010 – Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2009 – Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire)
2008 – Emmanuel Adebayor (Togo)
2007 – Frederic Kanouté (Mali)
2006 – Didier Drogba (Côte d’Ivoire)
2005 – Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2004 – Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
2003 – Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

1990s Icons Who Paved the Way

The 1990s were defined by Nigerian and West African greats, with Liberia’s George Weah standing out as Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner:

2002 – El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
2001 – El Hadji Diouf (Senegal)
2000 – Patrick M’Boma (Cameroon)
1999 – Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
1998 – Mustapha Hadji (Morocco)
1997 – Victor Ikpeba (Nigeria)
1996 – Nwankwo Kanu (Nigeria)
1995 – George Weah (Liberia)
1994 – Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria)
1993 – Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria)
1992 – Abedi Pele (Ghana)

A Tradition of Excellence Continues

Hakimi’s 2025 triumph strengthens his status as one of Africa’s most influential modern players and adds to Morocco’s growing legacy in international football. With emerging stars across Europe’s top leagues, the competition for future CAF Player of the Year awards remains wide open.
Africa’s football history — from Abedi Pele (1992) to Achraf Hakimi (2025) — reflects three decades of evolving talent, continental rivalry and global impact.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Super Eagles to shift attention to the 2026 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, urging the team to recover quickly from Sunday’s World Cup playoff defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President said the team must now “focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations” after narrowly missing out on a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive cycle.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes were extinguished in Rabat after a tense match ended 1-1 in extra time, with DR Congo edging the Eagles 4-3 on penalties to move into the Inter-Confederation play-off.
Despite the disappointment, Tinubu commended the players for their determination throughout the qualifiers, noting that they had shown resilience, particularly after winning the first leg of the playoff.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said.
The President also called for a comprehensive review of the country’s football operations, urging administrators, coaches, players and stakeholders to return to the drawing board and “plug all the loopholes” that undermined the qualification campaign.
While acknowledging the pain felt by fans nationwide, he stressed that the upcoming AFCON—scheduled for January to February 2026—provides an immediate opportunity for redemption.
“Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” President Tinubu said, rallying the team to prepare adequately and aim for a strong continental outing

Portugal crushed Armenia 9-1 despite the absence of suspended talisman Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves both scored a hat-trick as Roberto Martinez’s side racked up a huge win in Porto to top Group F.
Renato Veiga got the ball rolling for Portugal, with Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on the score sheet.
After a draw in Hungary in October and a surprise defeat in Ireland on Thursday, in which Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal wrapped up qualification at the third attempt in their final group match.
They will compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions are yet to win.
“We always want to win in the same way – to be convincing and control the game. It’s not always possible, but today we were effective and achieved a good victory,” said Fernandes.
With midfielder Fernandes playing a key role throughout, Portugal made a quick start by scoring in the seventh minute.
Fernandes’s vicious in swinging free-kick from just outside the left side of the box was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Henri Avagyan but Veiga was on hand to head home the rebound.
The visitors shocked the hosts by scoring on their first attack to equalise, with Grant-Leon Ranos crossing for Armenia captain Eduard Spertsyan to strike.
However, Portugal quickly stepped up a gear and racked up an unassailable lead. Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramos intercepted a back pass and squeezed home his country’s second after rounding Avagyan.
Portugal put together a tidy move for their third, with Neves blasting home from the edge of the box after being teed up by Fernandes.
Neves netted a spectacular second with a free-kick which flew into the top right corner, leaving Avagyan with no chance.
Fernandes netted the fifth in first half stoppage time with a low penalty after Ruben Dias was fouled.
The Manchester United midfielder continued where he left off after the break, slotting home his second after being fed by Ramos.
Fernandes completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after debutant substitute Carlos Forbs was felled.
Neves followed suit for Portugal’s eighth goal, smashing home after Veiga headed Fernandes’s cross into his path.
Juventus forward Conceicao added the ninth in stoppage time to seal one of his country’s biggest-ever victories.
“Now we can truly dream about the World Cup, I was very pleased with the players’ response (after the Ireland defeat),” said Martinez.
“We’re at the World Cup! Let’s go, Portugal!” wrote Ronaldo on social media platform X.
The striker could miss the start of the tournament depending on whether FIFA extend his suspension beyond the mandatory one-match ban he served against Armenia.
Ireland stunned Hungary with a late winner to triumph 3-2 in the other Group F match and reach the play-offs, with Troy Parrott following up his midweek brace against Portugal with a hat-trick.