Victor Osimhen falls short, 3rd time lucky for Hakimi as PSG star succeeds Ademola Lookman as CAF king

Achraf Hakimi has finally climbed to the summit of African football’s biggest individual stage, edging out Mohamed Salah and Victor Osimhen to claim the 2025 CAF Player of the Year Award. In doing so, he brings an end to Nigeria’s recent dominance after Osimhen and Ademola Lookman won the honour back-to-back in 2023 and 2024. 

The Paris Saint-Germain full-back earned his moment through an extraordinary year that defied positional expectations. While naturally a defender, Hakimi's performances displayed the same blend of athleticism, discipline, and decision-making that has become his trademark for both club and country.

This one’s frame-worthy, Achraf! 🤩🇲🇦#CAFAwards2025 pic.twitter.com/9aOWNhNY9h

— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 19, 2025

Osimhen, who came into the ceremony as one of the favourites following another blistering season in front of goal, ultimately fell just short. His 37 goals and seven assists played a central role in Istanbul’s league and cup double, and the Nigerian talisman once again showed why he remains one of Africa’s most feared strikers. But this time, even those numbers weren’t enough to outshine a defender who turned the year into his own highlight reel.

Why Hakimi beat out Osimhen for CAF POTY

Hakimi’s season was built on consistency and influence in competitions where the margins are razor-thin. From early January to mid-October, he registered nine goals and 11 assists across all competitions, a remarkable tally for a right-back. 

Those contributions were pivotal as PSG swept all four domestic trophies in France and, most notably, lifted their first-ever UEFA Champions League title with a commanding 5-0 win over Inter Milan in the final.

Even though they came up short against Chelsea in the Club World Cup final, Hakimi’s body of work across the season gave him the edge. 

His blend of versatility, match-winning interventions, and medal haul proved too compelling for voters, nudging him ahead of Salah’s brilliance and Osimhen’s goal-scoring fireworks.