Morocco’s Hakimi is Africa’s king

• 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.