The Paris Saint-Germain defender claimed the coveted prize at the CAF Awards in Rabat on Wednesday night, finishing ahead of Egypt's Mohamed Salah and Nigeria's Victor Osimhen.

The 27-year-old becomes the first Moroccan player to win the honour since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, finally securing the award after near misses in 2023 and 2024.

Hakimi's win follows an exceptional year in which he helped PSG clinch the French league title and their first-ever UEFA Champions League crown, scoring the opening goal in the 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan in the final.

He also lifted the UEFA Super Cup, Coupe de France, and French Super Cup, though PSG narrowly missed out in the FIFA Club World Cup final against Chelsea.

"It's truly an honour to win such a prestigious trophy. This is not just for me-it's for all Africans who dare to dream," Hakimi told the audience, as quoted by BBC.

Despite the celebrations, the defender is racing against time to recover from ankle ligament damage suffered earlier this month in the Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.

Hakimi carefully avoided putting weight on his injured foot as he accepted the award from CAF president Patrice Motsepe and FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

Hakimi has been a central figure in promoting the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which Morocco will host as they aim to win their first continental title since 1976. "We will do our best to win Afcon," he added.

In the women's category, Moroccan captain Ghizlane Chebbak made history by becoming the country's first-ever winner of the award since its introduction in 2001.

The 35-year-old midfielder finished as the top scorer at the delayed 2024 Women's Afcon, scoring a spectacular goal in the final despite Morocco's 3-2 defeat to Nigeria.

Nigeria did not leave empty-handed, however, as Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Africa's best goalkeeper for the third consecutive year.

Full list of 2025 CAF awards winners

Men's Player of the Year: Achraf Hakimi (Paris St-Germain & Morocco)

Women's Player of the Year: Ghizlaine Chebbak (Al-Hilal & Morocco)

Men's Coach of the Year: Bubista (Cape Verde)

Men's Goalkeeper of the Year: Yassine Bonou (Al-Hilal & Morocco)

Women's Goalkeeper of the Year: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion & Nigeria)

Men's National Team of the Year: Morocco Under-20

Women's National Team of the Year: Nigeria

Men's Club of the Year: Pyramids (Egypt)

Men's Interclub Player of the Year: Fiston Mayele (Pyramids & DR Congo)

Men's Young Player of the Year: Othmane Maamma (Watford & Morocco)

Women's Young Player of the Year: Doha El Madani (AS FAR & Morocco)

Goal of the Year (voted for by fans): Clement Mzize for Young Africans vs TP Mazembe.

The women's coach of the year, interclub player of the year and club of the year will be announced after the culmination of the ongoing 2025 Women's African Champions League.

Andre Arendse joins Sekhukhune United as assistant coach - reports