The only Moroccan in the running, Achraf Hakimi is one of the five finalists for the coveted African Ballon d'Or trophy which will be awarded during the CAF Awards ceremony, scheduled for December 16 in Marrakech, Morocco.
A true leader both in his club, Paris Saint-Germain, and in the Moroccan selection, where he inherited the captain's armband, Achraf Hakimi has shone brightly this season.
With the titles of French champion, Coupe de France, Champions Trophy, a semi-final of the Champions League and a bronze medal at the Olympic Games in Paris with Morocco, the PSG full-back is ideally suited to win the prestigious prize.
At club level, the Moroccan international is having a great season. He is one, if not, the best in his position and Luis Enrique managed to give him a hybrid role in which he seems perfectly comfortable. Even more, he is considered a player who makes the difference on and off the field. Having become vice-captain, behind Marquinhos, the 26-year-old full-back has gained weight and increased responsibility in recent months.
In 58 matches including 53 matches as a starter for PSG, he scored 8 goals plus 10 assists, thus positioning himself as a serious contender even if the competition will be fierce.
Indeed, the Atlas Lion faces Ademola Lookman, Nigerian winger from Atalanta (Italy), Simon Adingra, Ivorian winger from Brighton (England), Serhou Guirassy, Guinean striker from Borussia Dortmund (Germany) and Ronwen Williams , South African goalkeeper for Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa).
If Hakimi wins the title, he will become the first Arab player to win the award since Mohamed Salah in 2018. He would also join Salah and Algerian Riyad Mahrez as the third Arab to be crowned in the last ten years.
Achraf Hakimi could also become the first Moroccan to receive this distinction since Mustapha Hadji in 1998, when he played at Deportivo La Corogne (Spain). He would join a prestigious list of Moroccan players who have been crowned Best African Players, including Mohamed Timoumi, Badou Zaki, Mustapha Hadji, and Ahmed Faras.
