–
Journalist
Hungry for sport, he grew up to the sound of Formula 1 engines and the exploits of Ronaldinho. Today, with a Master’s degree in sports journalism, he no longer misses an F1 Grand Prix or a PSG match, his two passions and specialties.
Monday evening, the African Football Confederation meets to award the African Ballon d’Or trophy. Five players are still in the running to receive this distinction, namely Simon Adingra (Brighton/Côte d’Ivoire), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart/Dortmund/Guinea), Achraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/Nigeria) and Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa). And if it is the Parisian who is sacred, it would be historic in more than one way.
Presented by France Football between 1970 and 1994, the African Golden Ball has, however, taken on a new dimension since the Confederation of African Football (CAF) awarded the trophy for the best player on the continent. Since 1992, it is the African football federations which have elected the best African player of the year. And in 2024, there are still five in the running, namely Simon Adingra (Brighton/Ivory Coast), Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart then Dortmund/Guinea), Ashraf Hakimi (PSG/Morocco), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta/Nigeria) et Ronwen Williams (Mamelodi Sundowns/South Africa). The Parisian right-back is one of the favorites thanks to his successful season under the orders of Luis Enriquebut he must be wary of Simon Adingrawinner of the CAN at the start of the year, Serhou Guirassywho stacks the goals in Bundesligaor evenAdemola Lookman who caused a sensation with his hat-trick in the Europa League final against Bayer Leverkusen.
Hakimi first PSG player to receive the African Ballon d’Or
However, according to certain African media, it is Achraf Hakimi who should win this trophy, and it would be historic. And for good reason, since 1992 and the first delivery of African Golden Ball by the CAFonly one Moroccan has been distinguished, it was Mustapha Hadji in 1998. For comparison, Ivory Coast and Nigeria are the most successful nations with 6 trophies won each. Ashraf Hakimi would also include a prestigious list on which we find in particular the two most successful, namely Yaya Toure et Samuel Eto’oboth quadruple African Golden Ball. Didier Drogba, Live Mother, El-Hadji Diouf, Sadio Mane et Mohamed Salah have also won this award twice. And above all, Ashraf Hakimi would become the first player in the PSG to collect this trophy. At the moment, Liverpool is the club which has provided the most African Golden Ballwith six in total. Mohamed Salah (2017 et 2018), Sadio Mane (2019 and 2022) and El-Hadji Diouf (2002), are the Reds which were sacred. Moreover, the Senegalese international is the last winner with a French club. In 2001, Diouf is sacred African Golden Ball while it evolves RC Lens. Before him, Victor Ikpeba (AS Monaco, 1997) and Abedi Pele (OM, 1992), are the two other winners of the trophy with a French club.
Hakimi talks about his “pride”
Therefore, Ashraf Hakimi could well go down in history. A few days ago, at the microphone of PSG TVhe also displayed his pride: “ Pride, first of all. Also happy to see the results of the work I’ve been doing since I was little. This nomination gives me more motivation to continue working. I hope I can win this important trophy in my career and spend time with my family, because they are the most important people in my life who always stay by my side. He stays in the important moments, in the difficult moments and I want to enjoy these moments with my whole family ». The award ceremony African Golden Ball will take place Monday evening at 7 p.m.
