Hakimi Crowned African Player of the Year, Ending 27-Year Wait for Morocco

The period of anticipation that gripped the African continent ahead of the "Best Awards" ceremony has concluded, with Moroccan Achraf Hakimi crowned the winner of the award, the ceremony for which was hosted in the Moroccan capital, Rabat.

The final shortlist included three stars: Egypt's Mohamed Salah, winger for English club Liverpool; Nigeria's Victor Osimhen, striker for Italian club Napoli and winner of the previous edition; and Morocco's Achraf Hakimi, right-back for French club Paris Saint-Germain.

Ultimately, Hakimi ended a 27-year wait for Morocco, crowning his efforts throughout the past season by winning the award. He becomes the first Moroccan to claim the Golden Ball since Mustapha Hadji in 1998.

Looking back, the Moroccan international's nomination was a testament to his performance last season, where he was a key architect of Paris Saint-Germain's success, leading them to several titles, most notably the UEFA Champions League for the first time in the club's history.

Individually, Hakimi recorded one of his best seasons in the world of football, having played a total of 61 matches, scoring 13 goals, and providing 17 assists.

It is worth noting that the award originated in 1970 under the name "African Golden Ball" and was presented annually by the French magazine "France Football" until 1994. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) took over its organization starting in 1992. Cameroon's Samuel Eto'o and Ivory Coast's Yaya Touré currently lead in wins, with four each.